Network reserve capacity under influence of traveler information

This paper provides a hierarchical framework for studying the impact of traveler information on network reserve capacity. The framework comprises a two-level mathematical program-the upper-level program maximizes the reserve capacity multiplier subject to a link capacity constraint, and the lower-level program generates user equilibrium flow patterns under the influence of traveler information. The two-level program is solved by a genetic algorithm-based solution method. Numerical results indicate that the reserve capacity of a road network does not increase monotonically with the increase of information level. The implications of this finding, including its dependence on the characteristics of the road network, are discussed.