Reversible lane-based traffic network optimization with an advanced traveller information system

In the case of two-way traffic, there are two opposite-direction flows on every road and serious unsymmetrical flows exist in rush-hour periods. One of the primary methods used for handling this kind of traffic flow is the use of reversible lanes. Which and how many lanes should be adjusted are optimization problems. They can be treated as a network design problem, i.e. the optimal decision on the resource distribution of a street and highway system in response to a growing travel demand. This article studies a new form of transportation network design problem by performing the strategy of reversible lanes. In order to describe this problem, a bi-level programming model is given in which the upper level model is to make the total system cost and flow entropy minimum, while the lower level is a stochastic user equilibrium assignment with an advanced traveller information system. Finally, the numerical example shows that, by adopting the reversible lane and advanced traveller information system, the total system cost will be greatly reduced.