Demand Profiling for Dynamic Traffic Assignment by Integrating Departure Time Choice and Trip Distribution

One challenge in dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) modeling is estimating the finely disaggregated trip matrix required by such models. In previous work, an exogenous time distribution profile for trip departure rates is applied uniformly across all origin‐destination (O‐D) pairs. This article develops an endogenous departure time choice model based on an arrival time penalty function incorporated into trip distribution, which results in distinct demand profiles by O‐D pair. This yields a simultaneous departure time and trip choice making use of the time‐varying travel times in DTA. The required input is arrival time preferences, which can be disaggregated by O‐D pair and may be easier to collect through surveys than the demand profile. This model is integrated into the four‐step planning process with feedback, creating an extension of previous frameworks which aggregate over time. Empirical results from a network representing Austin, Texas indicate variation in departure time choice appropriate to the arrival time penalties and travel times. Our model also appears to converge faster to a dynamic trip table prediction than a time‐aggregated coupling of DTA and planning, potentially reducing the substantial computation time of combined planning models that solve DTA as a subproblem of a feedback process.