I am thrilled to announce the publication of our latest article in the esteemed journal, Transportation Research Part A. Together with my co-authors Dr. Ido Klein, Dr. Aleksey Ogulenko, Prof. Eran Ben-Elia and Prof. Itzhak Benenson we've embarked on a journey to explore innovative solutions to traffic congestion in one of the world's most historically and culturally rich cities.
Collaborative effort between academia, industry leaders, and the JTMT (Jerusalem Transportation Master Plan Team).
"Together with my co-authors Dr. Ido Klein, Dr. Aleksey Ogulenko, Prof. Eran Ben-Elia and Prof. Itzhak Benenson we've embarked on a journey to explore innovative solutions..."
I'm pleased to share some highlights from my latest research, aimed at enhancing future urban mobility in Jerusalem.
Our findings revealed that a daily charge of approximately €10 could reduce car arrivals by 25%, offering a tangible strategy to alleviate urban congestion. Additionally, when combined with parking pricing, these measures could deter intra-city trips, further reducing congestion and emissions.
We used MATSim to create a virtual model of Jerusalem's transport system. Think of it as a super-smart video game where cars, buses, and even self-driving vehicles move like in real life. The virtual people adapt to changes, switching to whatever transport benefits them. This helps us test ideas to improve real-world travel.
"The MATSim Jerusalem model served as a testing ground for different future "carrot-and-stick" strategies."
Our model showed that introducing Shared Automated Cars alone (the "carrot") could divert people from Public Transport. Adding a "stick" like congestion/parking pricing, however, creates a balanced use of both.
Interestingly, easing traffic in congestion-charged areas can paradoxically attract more private cars.
I have created a video simulation to visually represent the model (Via by Simunto).
The work provides valuable insights for city planners, helping them understand how to effectively use rewards ("carrots") and penalties ("sticks") to improve urban mobility.