Models of Commuters' Information Use and Route Choice: Initial Results Based on a Southern California Commuter Route Choice Survey

This paper presents a statistical analysis of commuters' route choice behavior and the influence of traffic information based on a 1992 survey of Los Angeles area morning commuters. Cross tabulations were performed on the data to explore interrelationships among variables and provide a basis for subsequent model estimation. The results indicate the potential benefit of an information system that would make more commuters aware of alternative routes. Surface streets are heavily used as secondary routes, indicating how frequently diversion of traffic to surface arterials is already occurring, perhaps in an inefficient way. Real-time, in-vehicle route guidance may provide access to more efficient secondary routes. Two sets of models were estimated: bivariate probit models of whether individuals follow the same route to work everyday and whether they receive traffic information pre-trip or en-route), and negative binomial models of the frequency of route changes per month based on pre-trip and en-route traffic reports. The estimation results underscore the important relationship between the use of traffic information and the propensity to change routes. In addition, important relationships are uncovered relating the influence that commuters' socioeconomic characteristics and the level of traffic congestion they face have on traffic information use and route change frequency. The results' important implications for advanced traveler information system (ATIS) development are discussed.

• Record URL:
  • https://merritt.cdlib.org/d/ark%3A%2F13030%2Fm5k107pv/1/producer%2FPWP-93-21.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/29453946
• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Berkeley

  California PATH Program, Institute of Transportation Studies
  Richmond Field Station, 1357 South 46th Street
  Richmond, CA  United States  94804-4648

  California Department of Transportation

  Office of Research and Development, 1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814
• Authors:
  • Abdel-Aty, Mohamed
  • Vaughn, Kenneth M
  • Kitamura, Ryuichi
  • Jovanis, Paul P
  • Mannering, Fred L
• Publication Date: 1993-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 39p
• Serial:
  • PATH Working Paper
  • Publisher: University of California, Irvine

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Commuters; Probits; Route choice; Socioeconomic factors; Traffic diversion; Travel surveys
• Geographic Terms: Los Angeles (California)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01582691
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Report/Paper Numbers: UCB-ITS-PWP-93-21
• Files: CALTRANS, TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 3 2015 9:48AM