Abstract:

During peak travel times traffic speeds often drop below the level at which flow is maximized. Transportation economists refer to such conditions as “hypercongested”. Hypercongestion has been studied using Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram models but these models typically rely on strong assumptions and abstract from details of the road network. The goal of this work is to examine the spatial and temporal evolution of hypercongestion during the morning peak on individual road links. Analysis is conducted using the traffic simulator METROPOLIS which was developed in the late 1990s to model travel mode, departure-time, and route-choice decisions on large-scale networks. METROPOLIS was recently upgraded to include individual point-to-point trips, trip chains, improved congestion modeling, and different vehicle types.

METROPOLIS is applied to a set of hypothetical road networks and regions of Ile-de-France to study two manifestations of hypercongestion. One is reduced speeds on upstream links that feed into downstream links with lower flow capacities. If prolonged, horizontal queuing on upstream links can lead to spillback that blocks intersections and access to links further upstream. A second manifestation of hypercongestion occurs when the aggregate outflow of vehicles from a study area drops below aggregate exit capacity due to conflicting movements at entrances, exits, and intersections.


Bio

Robin Lindsey is a professor emeritus at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia. From 2010-2024 he held the CN Chair in Transportation and International Logistics. His research interests include traffic congestion, road pricing, urban public transportation, financing transportation infrastructure, and the environmental costs of road transportation. He has also worked on topics related to industrial organization including retail market competition, price discrimination, and predatory pricing.

Lindsey is a founding board member and past president of the International Transportation Economics Association, and an Associate Editor of Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. He is also coauthor with Kenneth Small and Erik Verhoef of the third edition of The Economics of Urban Transportation, published in June 2024 by Routledge.

Fall classes end

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 14 in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive.

*No tickets required

Northwestern University Transportation Center's Hagestad Sandhouse Rail Group and the Chicago Chapter of the Transportation Research Forum (TRF) invite you to attend a special, annual Sandhouse Luncheon Meeting at Northwestern’s Chicago campus featuring…

Anthony B. Hatch, Senior Transportation Analyst & Financial Consultant, ABH Consulting

AGENDA

11:30 AM - Check In & Networking
12:00 PM - Buffet Luncheon
12:30 PM - Presentation by Mr. Hatch

EVENT REGISTRATION (required in advance by Wednesday, December 11)

$60 - Eventbrite registration w/ credit card payment in advance

$10 - Parking chaser pass (6 hours, use when leaving garage)
$70 - Eventbrite registration & cash or check payment made at the event

About Anthony Hatch

Tony Hatch has been a senior transportation analyst on Wall Street for over twenty years, starting at Salomon brothers; proceeding to Argus, Painewebber, and most recently at NatWest Markets (USA) prior to starting his independent analyst/consultantcy in 1999 and working with CV Brokerage. He provides traditional institutional transport research, and due diligence and other services to new forms of transport investment such as private equity, infrastructure, and hedge funds in such areas as intermodal, rail maintenance and construction, railcars, and 3PLS.

Parking: (pre-paid passes available for purchase in advance and pickup at the event)

o Erie Ontario Garage at 321 E Erie St

o Huron Superior Garage at 222 E Huron St.

Register Now

The aim of the ITEA Annual School is to provide young researchers with a high-quality introduction to academic research on transportation economics, including many recent advances in the field. The School’s program consists of a series of lectures and tutorials conducted by some of the most prominent researchers in transportation economics. In addition, the students are given the possibility to present their own work at the Conference.

The aim of the ITEA Annual School is to provide young researchers with a high-quality introduction to academic research on transportation economics, including many recent advances in the field. The School’s program consists of a series of lectures and tutorials conducted by some of the most prominent researchers in transportation economics. In addition, the students are given the possibility to present their own work at the Conference.

The aim of the ITEA Annual School is to provide young researchers with a high-quality introduction to academic research on transportation economics, including many recent advances in the field. The School’s program consists of a series of lectures and tutorials conducted by some of the most prominent researchers in transportation economics. In addition, the students are given the possibility to present their own work at the Conference.

The aim of the ITEA Annual Conference is to promote scientific excellence in the field of transportation economics and to provide a forum for scientific exchange. Research presented at the conference covers both theory and empirical work, including all transport modes and a wide range of research methodologies.

The aim of the ITEA Annual Conference is to promote scientific excellence in the field of transportation economics and to provide a forum for scientific exchange. Research presented at the conference covers both theory and empirical work, including all transport modes and a wide range of research methodologies.

The aim of the ITEA Annual Conference is to promote scientific excellence in the field of transportation economics and to provide a forum for scientific exchange. Research presented at the conference covers both theory and empirical work, including all transport modes and a wide range of research methodologies.