Value of Real-Time Information on Traffic Congestion

Abstract

In this paper, we derive the improvement in benefit by using real time

information on traffic conditions on each road. By using real time information,

an individual can choose the less congested path and thus get to the

destination faster than otherwise. When we have real time information, a

route which takes more time on the average can sometimes be used for an

individual's benefit to reduce the congestion cost In addition to an individual's

benefit improvement, real time information improves the utilization of

each road in a traffic system. By inducing more balanced traffic flow on each

road, we can reduce the whole society's congestion cost. Although this paper

analyzes traffic systems which have multiple routes to the destination, the

methodology can be corresponded to a dynamic routing problem in a

queueing system with multiple queues and servers.