Track: Transportation and Traffic

Abstract

This research presents the analysis and comparison of two river crossing alternatives in terms of their impact on the on the city’s urban traffic demand by means of implementing simulation models. While the first proposed alternative considers the construction of a bridge, the second one is limited to the use of medium-size ferry to transport vehicles across the river. The work is carried out following a 4-stage methodology: analysis, design, construction, and validation. The virtual models’ construction is based on the classical 4-step travel forecast model. First, a base model to simulate the actual traffic flow is constructed, calibrated, and validated. Starting from it, two new models are developed, the first one to simulate the construction of a bridge, and the second one to simulate the implementation of a ferry line. Realistic restrictions are considered for each proposal: vehicle capacity, travel time, boarding time, and departure frequency, etc. Simulation results and statistical tests reveal that the bridge-based model has a significant impact on the travel time. Whereas the ferry-based model does not have such impact. In conclusion, the approach based on virtual models’ simulations proved to be an useful tool to compare the impact of different river crossing alternatives.