Provide a New Model for Optimal Locating of Park and Ride Facilities Using Genetic Algorithm

Main objectives of developing public transportation systems are to improve transportation systems for the users and to encourage private vehicle users to use public transport systems. One of the problems causing low levels of service and thus reducing the demand for public transport is poor access of the private vehicle users to public transport systems. According to this point and considering the government’s recent policy of rationing fuel which makes it impossible to use private vehicles for whole the trips in large cities, a considerable solution is to develop park and ride facilities to encourage private vehicle users towards public transportation. However, site location has been always an issue in planning for park and ride. This study aims to develop a model for the establishment of park and ride facilities by reducing traffic in the network. Model is based on the population, potential sites for providing park and ride facilities and location of the commercial centers. Genetic algorithm has been used for solving large-scale problems and its efficiency for such problems has been shown.