Examining commute mode choice of essential workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic – A case study of the University of Washington

During disruptive events and major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, essential workers, defined in this study as employees who must continue to make frequent commute trips, play a critical role in maintaining the basic function of society. It is therefore vital for transportation planners and policymakers to ensure that adequate mobility services are provided to meet the travel needs of this group of workers. To better understand essential workers’ mobility barriers and inform future transportation policy, this research examines their pre- and during-pandemic commutes, as well as prospects on future commuting, using data from the Transportation Needs Assessment Survey conducted by the University of Washington in Seattle. The results show that, first, over 60% of pre-pandemic public transit riders switched to other modes, especially driving alone. In contrast, almost all the essential workers who drove alone, biked, or walked before the pandemic continued to do so during the pandemic. Second, the shift to driving alone was most pronounced among essential workers with high incomes, whereas public transit remained as a primary mode choice of lower-income groups. As travel distance increased, the probability of driving alone over public transit also went up, although the relationship was not linear. The authors did not find consistently significant associations between mode choice and other sociodemographic variables. Finally, the analysis indicated that most essential workers anticipated to return to their pre-pandemic commute frequency and mode choice when the pandemic is under control. Transportation planners and policymakers can facilitate mobility for essential workers through planning and policy innovations, especially during disruptive events and major crises.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101129
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213624X23001839
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/2213624X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2023 World Conference on Transport Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Cai, Mingming
  • 0000-0002-2064-0297
  • Shen, Qing
  • 0000-0002-0968-7377
  • Wang, Yiyuan
  • Brown, Melissa
  • Ban, Xuegang
  • Ashour, Lamis Abu
• Publication Date: 2024-3-15

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 101129
• Serial:
  • Case Studies on Transport Policy
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 2213-624X
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/2213624X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuting; COVID-19; Mobility; Mode choice
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01902669
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 19 2023 5:05PM