Looking for a quick primer on the range of factors that researchers have found to be influential in determining mode choice and travel behavior?
Section 2 of a new report, “Tools for Estimating VMT Reductions from Built Environment Changes” from the Washington State Department of Transportation provides a concise consideration of demographic and “built-environment” factors. Of note for transportation-demand-management professionals, the Built Environment subsection covers “Demand management” (pg. 8).
The report, authored by Anne Vernez Moudon and Orion Stewart of the University of Washington’s Urban Form Lab, also provides an overview of tools that planners can use to estimate the impact that new forms of development (such as transit-oriented development or TOD) could have on vehicle travel. The authors include both “Professionally oriented tools” (e.g., the US EPA COMMUTER model, CommunityViz, etc.) and “Publicly oriented tools” (e.g., Walk Score, and the H+T (Housing and Transportation) Affordability Index).
LINKS
Abstract and Full Report at the Washington DOT Research Web Site
SELECTED CITATIONS FROM THE REPORT
OTHER RELATED STUDIES