Commute Travel: How Does Proximity Influence Mode Choice? GIS Analysis of a Large Urban University

This paper explores the relationship between residential patterns and modal choices for the employees of a larger employment center in Los Angeles. The research employs several databases of employee residences and commute data. Geographic information systems and statistical models are used to identify patterns and to quantify the relationships. It is found that the majority of employees live relatively close, within a 10 to 20 mile distance from the employment center. Second, there are notable relationships between residential distance from employment and choice of commute mode. Also, proximity to multiple transit lines significantly increases the percentage of employees electing transit as a commute mode. The choice of commute mode occurs within discrete distances, or cut-off points, with the exception of carpooling and driving, which show no relationship with commute distance from the employment center. The final section of this paper compares commute distance for the university sample to commuters in a Los Angeles regional travel model and the 2001 NHTS. Staff data resembles the regional trends while faculty have shorter commutes than the national average.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Gould, Jane
  • Zhou, Jiangping
  • O'Flaherty, Sandra
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Campus transportation; Commuting; Geographic information systems; Mode choice; Public transit; Urban transportation policy; Vanpools; Work trips
• Identifier Terms: University of California, Los Angeles
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01046847
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-3234
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 8 2007 7:56PM