THE JANUARY 17, 1994 NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE IMPACTS ON THE INTERSTATE-5 AND THE STATE ROUTE-14 COMMUTE BEHAVIOR IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Southern California was struck by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake (measured on the Richter scale) on January 17, 1994 (Northridge Earthquake) which caused extensive damage to some of the region's freeway system. The Golden State Freeway (Interstate 5), the Antelope Valley Freeway (State Route 14), and their Interchange in and around the city of Santa Clarita were significantly damaged. Detours were quickly established and work on the damaged (or destroyed) freeway segments was initiated within a few days. Traffic volumes, occupancy counts, and travel time runs were frequently conducted to capture the changes to pre-quake conditions as repair work progressed. Various surveys were also taken to ascertain commute behavioral changes. The results indicated that the majority of people were satisfied with the available detour routes. Those who utilized the established temporary High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on SR-14 (one lane each direction) saved as much as 9 minutes compared to those on the mixed flow lanes during the morning peak period (southbound) commute. About 7% of the I-5 pre-quake trips were discontinued through the two corridors after the quake because of increased traffic congestion, inconvenience, telecommuting, and change in work location. Approximately 9% of the SR-14 pre-quake trips were also discontinued through the damaged sections due to the same reasons. Metrolink ridership on the Santa Clarita line increased significantly (from 1,000 boardings per weekday pre-earthquake to 22,000 per weekday in late January, 1994). This, however, decreased to about 4,000 boardings per day in July.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trcircular/462/462-004.pdf
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Tabaie, S
  • Leung, S K
  • Wesemann, L W
• Publication Date: 1996-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 27-35
• Monograph Title: 1994 NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: 462
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuters; Data collection; Detours; Disaster preparedness; High occupancy vehicle lanes; Impact studies; Public transit; Ridership; Traffic mitigation; Traffic volume; Travel behavior; Travel time; Vehicle occupancy
• Identifier Terms: Northridge Earthquake, January 17, 1994
• Uncontrolled Terms: Mitigation
• Geographic Terms: Los Angeles Metropolitan Area; Southern California
• Old TRIS Terms: Transportation effects; Travel disruption
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00725598
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 17 1996 12:00AM