Including Minor Modes of Transport in a Tour-Based Mode Choice Model with Household Interactions
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 12
Abstract
Mode choice models used for travel demand forecasting generally include “major” transportation modes of driving, ridesharing, walking, and riding public transit. In the Toronto Area, these make up 96% of all trips. This paper describes the challenge of realistically modeling “minor” modes, while maintaining behavioral realism in the rest of the model. This is critical to public policy since increasing the mode share of bicycling, commuter rail, and school bus has the potential to reduce emissions, save on expensive auto infrastructure, encourage healthier lifestyles, reduce congestion, and support liveable communities. The tour-based model presented in this paper simulates household interactions as part of the mode choice process. Model parameters are estimated using a choice-based sample of tours in the Toronto Area and a genetic algorithm. The model shows very good results for commuter rail and school bus modes, but limited success for the drive access subway, taxi, and bicycle modes. Representation of niche markets through restricted choice sets allows for a parsimonious utility function that includes level of service, land-use, activity, and socioeconomic variables.
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Acknowledgments
The funding for this project came, in part, from Transport Canada and a variety of other sponsors involved in a Transportation Planning and Modal Integration project. We also acknowledge the earlier work of Jesse Coleman who provided insights into the markets for minor modes.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 12 • December 2009
Pages: 935 - 945
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 10, 2008
Accepted: May 21, 2009
Published online: Jun 1, 2009
Published in print: Dec 2009
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