Demand for Intercity Bus Services Innovative Approach to Estimating Demand for Intercity Bus Services in Rural Environment

Because existing models have their limitations, there is a significant need for a model to estimate demand for intercity bus services, especially in rural areas. The general objective of this research was to develop an intercity mode choice model that can be incorporated into a statewide travel demand model to estimate demand for rural intercity bus services. Four intercity transportation modes were considered in the study: automobile, bus, rail, and air. A stated preference survey was conducted of individuals across the state of North Dakota, and a mixed logit model was developed to estimate a mode choice model. Results from the mode choice model showed the significant impacts of individual, trip, and mode characteristics on choice of mode. Gender, age, income, disability, trip purpose, party size, travel time, travel cost, and access distance were all found to have significant impacts on mode choice, and traveler attitudes were also found to be important. The study demonstrated how the mode choice model can be incorporated into a statewide travel demand model, and intercity bus mode shares were estimated for origin-destination pairs within the state. Alternative scenarios were analyzed to show how mode shares would change under different conditions or service characteristics. This study was conducted in the largely rural state of North Dakota, but results could be transferable to other areas with similar geographic characteristics.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.5038/CUTR-NCTR-RR-2015-13
• Record URL:
  • http://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/2016-12-estimating-demand-for-intercity-bus-services.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  • http://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/2016-12-estimating-demand-for-intercity-bus-services-executive-summary.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/2016-12-estimating-demand-for-intercity-bus-services-survey-summary.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. Alternate title: Innovative Approach to Estimating Demand for Intercity Bus Services in a Rural Environment.
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 6050
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108-6050

  National Center for Transit Research

  Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida
  4202 East Fowler Avenue, CUT 100
  Tampa, FL  United States  33620

  Florida Department of Transportation

  605 Suwannee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mattson, Jeremy
• Publication Date: 2016-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 149p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Choice models; Innovation; Intercity bus lines; Logits; Mode choice; Rural areas; Stated preferences; Travel demand
• Geographic Terms: North Dakota
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01646639
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 2177060-NCTR-NDSU10
• Files: UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 25 2017 2:10PM