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Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is growing in popularity throughout the world. The reasons for this phenomenon include its passenger and developer attractiveness

The relative effect that each of a wide variety of factors has on the extent to which a traveler will chain trips was investigated. The objectives were to empirically determine which factors influence a traveler’s tendency to chain two or more trips within one tour, as well as the relative significance of these considerations; to more specifically determine the level of influence that urban centers have on trip chaining; and to evaluate the potential effects on trip-chaining behavior of specific transportation demand management (TDM) strategies through examination of variables that describe effects associated with TDM. A negative binomial regression model was developed in which the number of trips in a chain is related to household characteristics, traveler characteristics, trip characteristics, and urban form. After the model was estimated, the significance of individual variables was analyzed. Characteristics from each of these categories were found to be statistically significant. A number of the significant variables help to describe effects of specific TDM strategies, and the relative effects of these variables on trip-chaining behavior were addressed. Some of the variables representing TDM strategies increased the level of trip chaining, whereas other variables decreased the level of chaining. Potential policy conflicts between trip chaining and specific TDM programs are discussed.

In response to suburban transportation problems, developers and planners have suggested that mixing land uses can reduce automobile dependency by making more goods and services available within walking, biking, and short driving distances. This view has resulted in a neotraditional planning movement that promotes neighborhoods designed with traditional characteristics including a mix of land uses. However, few studies have empirically explored the transportation implications for these neighborhoods. This issue is addressed by using a travel diary collected in three greater Seattle area neighborhoods characterized by neotraditional neighborhood elements including mixed land use. These data were compared with those collected in an identical diary from individuals throughout the region. It was found that residents of the mixed land use study neighborhoods in Seattle traveled 28 percent fewer kilometers (miles) than residents in adjacent areas and up to 120 percent fewer kilometers than residents in suburban areas. This trend of lower travel distances held across different socioeconomic characteristics. However, the differences in travel distances among the areas were not seen when travel time was considered. The daily travel time was about 90 min/person (including walking), regardless of where that person lived and that person’s socioeconomic status. One implication of this finding is that if a neotraditional neighborhood development does make shopping and other chores less time-consuming, there may simply be more time in the travel budget for additional regional travel. This suggests that travel from the neotraditional neighborhoods needs to be examined in a regional context.

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