Abstract
This research seeks to improve the understanding of the full range of determinants for mode choice behavior and to offer practical solutions to practitioners on representing and distinguishing these characteristics in travel demand forecasting models. The principal findings were that the representation of awareness of transit services is significantly different than the underlying assumption of mode choice and forecasting models that there is perfect awareness and consideration of all modes. Furthermore, inclusion of non-traditional transit attributes and attitudes can improve mode choice models and reduce bias constants. Additional methods and analyses are necessary to bring these results into practice. The work is being conducted in two phases. This paper documents the results of Phase I, which included data collection for one case study city (Salt Lake City), research and analysis of non-traditional transit attributes in mode choice models, awareness of transit services, and recommendations for bringing these analyses into practice. Phase II will include data collection for two additional case study cities (Chicago and Charlotte) with minor modifications based on limitations identified in Phase I, additional analyses where Phase I results indicated a need, and a demonstration of the research in practice for at least one case study city.
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Acknowledgements
The research described in this paper is being performed under TCRP Project H-37 by Resource Systems Group, Inc., with assistance from AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Arizona State University and University of Texas. John Lobb of Resource Systems Group was the Principal Investigator for the project, in close partnership with Greg Spitz, Thomas Adler and Maren Outwater of Resource Systems Group. Maren Outwater, John Lobb, Margaret Campbell, and Frances Niles were the primary authors of this paper. Thomas Adler and Resource Systems Group personnel (Frances Niles, Greg Spitz, John Lobb and Margaret Campbell) provided the resources and expertise for designing and conducting the onsite survey in Salt Lake City as well as much of the analysis. Jevan Stubits, Resource Systems Group, did a thorough and thoughtful literature review. David Schmidt, Lakshmi Vana and Bill Woodford, AECOM, provided insights and modeling expertise on the awareness and choice consideration data. Ram Pendyala and Bhargava Sana, from Arizona State University, were responsible for the nested logit-modeling of the stated preference data. Margaret Campbell, Resource Systems Group performed the Maximum Difference Scaling modeling that was linked to the stated preference models. Bill Davidson of Parsons Brinckerhoff provided invaluable assistance in reviewing the stated preference models. The guidance of Dianne Schwager, the TCRP Program Office for the project, and the Project Panel has been appreciated.
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Outwater, M.L., Spitz, G., Lobb, J. et al. Characteristics of premium transit services that affect mode choice. Transportation 38, 605–623 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-011-9334-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-011-9334-0