Modeling Commuters’ Response to Pre-Trip Information Provided for Prolonged and Large-Scale Network Disruptions: Case study of West LRT Construction in the City Calgary, Canada

This paper models commuters’ response to pre-trip information disseminated through electronic Newsletters, which are advising route diversions and mode change due to a major Light Rail Trasit (LRT) Construction in the City of Calgary, Canada. The West LRT line is a major construction affecting daily commute around an urbanized area. The construction lasts three years and during this time roads and lane closures take place in the vicinity of the construction zones. Data on commuters' route making decisions were obtained by conducting a survey on a sample of users of the main affected roads. Two discrete choice models were calibrated for this purpose. The first model examines commuters' response to traffic information disseminated through Newsletters, and the second model investigates the reason behind the low response rate of commuters. In these models the effects of socio-economic characteristics, congestion level, trip characteristics, weather conditions, frequency of driving in the vicinity of the LRT construction zone, familiarity with alternative routes, route characteristics and access to other sources of traffic alerts are examined. Although 13% of commuters are likely to make no changes in their routes and trips, 46% of the respondents stated that they would make pronounced changes in trip planning by either changing modes, departure time or destination; 41% stated to change their route. The attitude and perception towards the quality of information provided by the Newsletters were found to be critical contributing factors affecting the travelers’ responses to these systems. Respondents stated that the perceived unreliability of Newsletter information and the expected similarity in travel time on alternate route are major reasons behind the low compliance rate.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AND20 User Information Systems
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Saleemi, Hina
  • Kattan, Lina
  • de Barros, Alexandre Gomes
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traffic management systems; Case studies; Commuters; Decision making; Mode choice; Route choice; Socioeconomic factors; Work zone traffic control
• Geographic Terms: Calgary (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01367997
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-2976
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 18 2012 9:01AM