Abstract
A model for a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system is proposed, using an embedded Markov chain to manage traffic behavior at a grade separated interchange. The interchange is composed of a main line and a subline. There are two kinds of vehicles in both the main line and the subline, respectively; these are branch vehicles and straight vehicles. A vehicle on the main line has priority. Thus, a queue is formed only on the subline. Waiting times of subline vehicles are restricted to a fixed value. If the waiting times exceed the value, a vehicle will be detoured. This value is called the restricted entry waiting time. We analyze the embedded Markov chain model according to the generating function technique. The relationship between the value of the restricted entry waiting time and traffic behavior is examined; the obtained results clarify how to decide the optimum value of the restricted entry waiting time.
