Flesser, Morten (Technische Universität Braunschweig), Shalaby, Amer (University of Toronto), Friedrich, Bernhard (Technische Universität Braunschweig)

Aerial Cable Cars in Urban Public Transit: Queuing Capacity Thresholds

Scheduled for presentation during the Regular Session "Public Transportation Management" (FrBT9), Friday, September 27, 2024, 14:30−14:50, Salon 17

2024 IEEE 27th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), September 24- 27, 2024, Edmonton, Canada

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on December 26, 2024

Abstract

This study analyzes the feasibility of urban aerial cable cars as a mobility option combined with conventional modes of transport, discusses the use of cable cars in urban public transit, and places the results in an updated context of existing literature. Specifically, the study aims at (1) defining the capacity thresholds of conventional modes of transport that serve as feeders to cable cars and (2) determining the corresponding space requirements for arising queues. Key performance indicators are accordingly waiting time, queue length and queue space. Queuing theory is utilized to determine waiting times and queue lengths, and subsequently, the space requirements for queues are derived. Findings indicate that cable cars can serve as a viable mobility option if passenger demand from feeder conventional modes of transport is appropriately limited and excessively large batches of passengers arriving simultaneously are avoided. For example, subways and commuter rails, even if operating in long headways of 30 minutes, would lead to overcrowded transport systems and long waiting times. However, feeders such as buses, BRT, or trams demonstrate good operability. Accordingly, the work identifies suitable thresholds for interoperability to further promote transit as a crucial part of future urban mobility.