Travel Behavior of Immigrants in California: Trends and Policy Implications

This article examines the travel behavior of immigrants in California. Drawing on data from the 1980, 1990, and 2000 Public Use Microdata Sample of the U.S. Census, we describe immigrants’ travel patterns in California, focusing on commute mode. We find that immigrants rely more extensively on alternative commute modes (carpooling and transit) than native-born commuters. But with time in the U.S., immigrants quickly assimilate away from these alternative modes and increasingly rely on solo driving. We then explore the effects of this transportation assimilation process for immigrant families and on public transit usage. Cars may provide immigrants with increased access to employment and, consequently, contribute to their economic assimilation. However, declining transit use among recent immigrants and slowing immigration suggest that, unless transit planners intervene, transit ridership in California will decline. We conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for transportation policy.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Blumenberg, Evelyn
  • Song, Lily
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2008-1-13 to 2008-1-17
• Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; Maps; References;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 87th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Carpools; Demographics; Immigrants; Mode choice; Persons by race and ethnicity; Public transit; Social factors; Travel behavior; Travel demand; Travel patterns
• Identifier Terms: Public Use Microdata Sample
• Uncontrolled Terms: Resource sharing
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01089171
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 08-2838
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 27 2008 8:58AM