Applying the Catastrophe Model to Analyze Freeway Drivers' Route Switching Behavior Given a Congestion Charging Strategy

Abstract

Along with the forthcoming implementation of an electronic distance-based charging strategy for the freeways in Taiwan, a congestion charging strategy may also be designed to help alleviate heavy traffic. Unlike previous studies where the discrete choice models are used, this study applies the cusp catastrophe model to discuss the drivers’ route switching behavior given the various rates and describe their non-linear characteristics. A questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain empirical results with 461 valid questionnaires were collected from freeway drivers traveling in the Taipei metropolitan area. The proposed behavioral model considered “switching intention” as the state variable, with “switching barrier” and “congestion charging rate” as the control variables. The behavioral state analyzed samples located in six areas of the control space. The catastrophe characteristics of switching behavior were also discussed. Higher switching barrier could easily cause discontinuous switching behavior. A bimodality phenomenon occurred especially when the rate charged was NT$1.2/km.