Fare Calculation Methodology in Automated Public Transport Payment Systems: Zoning, Per-kilometer, and Adaptive Tariffs

The purpose of the research is to develop proposals for tariff setting in automated fare collection systems for public transport. The work focuses on a critical analysis of the zonal fare model currently operating in the Leningrad region. The study analyzed ۷۶۰ routes in the Leningrad region. Key shortcomings of the existing approach were identified: the violation of the principle of payment proportionality for the provided transport service, due to the discrete nature of the tariff model, which forces passengers into suboptimal behavioral scenarios; cost inequity on parallel routes; and a conflict of interest between transport companies and consumers of transport services when determining tariff zone boundaries. To overcome the identified problems, a number of alternative tariff models are proposed. An approach to the algorithmic determination of the number and boundaries of tariff zones is described, utilizing fuzzy logic and multi-criteria optimization that accounts for the specifics of the route network and transportation demand patterns. A strategy for transitioning to a per-kilometer fare is developed, involving the modernization of the automated fare collection system to overcome existing technical limitations. For the illustrative sample of routes examined, the total reduction in fares when moving from the baseline zoning to the proposed fare structures was ۵–۱۸% (alternative zoning model), ۱۴–۲۸% (per‑kilometer tariff), ۱۴–۲۸% (adaptive tariff model). The practical significance of the work is the development of an algorithmic fare regulation methodology that ensures transparency and uniformity of fare calculation and can be embedded into automated fare collection systems.

کلیدواژه ها:

fare payment ، zone tariff ، public transport ، passenger transportation ، automated fare payment systems ، Economic efficiency ، intelligent transport system