TRAFFIC DYNAMICS IN PURSUIT OF EQUILIBRIUM

Abstract

This paper studies how equilibrium is achieved in day-to-day traffic dynamics. Trip-makers update their perceived cost on a daily basis and adjust their route choice accordingly. The limiting behavior of day-to-day dynamics is characterized by the notion of equilibrium, which forms a stationary state. The attractiveness of an equilibrium state is examined by stability and can be quantified by its attraction basin. This paper illustrates how instability, as well as the problem of non-convergence from states outside the attraction basin, can be removed by modifying network configuration. This paper further investigates other attractors including cycles and chaos that are associated with the dynamic process in the pursuit of traffic equilibrium.