Abstract
This paper addresses a new discrete equilibrium network design problem (NDP), which is on the selection of pedestrianisation location (i.e. the optimal set of pedestrian-only streets) in a multi-modal transport system with both motorized and non-motorized modes. Given a network of candidate pedestrian-only streets, the design problem is to determine the optimal set of pedestrian-only streets with considering flow equilibrium and modal equity constraints. An equivalent variational inequality (VI) problem is formulated to represent the flow equilibrium constraint. The modal equity constraints are introduced to balance the benefits and/or disbenefits to users of various transport modes, under a pedestrianisation scheme. A bi-level model is proposed to determine the optimal pedestrianisation locations and a heuristic solution algorithm is presented for solving the NDP. A case study based on the central business district of Hong Kong, “Central”, is employed to illustrate the applications of the proposed model and solution algorithm.
