Ohio Long-Distance Travel Model

Abstract

Credible forecasts of long-distance travel are an important tool for evaluating proposed intercity transportation improvements, including intercity highway and transit projects. Although researchers have studied the topic and have developed frameworks for modeling long-distance travel behavior, these research models have not been integrated into comprehensive model systems used for a wide range of applications. This paper presents a long-distance travel model that bridges the gap between research and practice. It is based on a rigorous behavioral framework that models the unique aspects of long-distance travel, such as a less regular frequency of trips and a different set of modal alternatives. The model structure includes the choice of whether to travel, the selection of the days on which to travel, scheduling to a specific time of day, destination choice, and mode choice. The model is sensitive to important descriptive variables, including the demographic characteristics of travelers, the attractiveness of possible destinations, and the levels of service of air, transit, and highway networks. It has been successfully implemented as part of the Ohio statewide model, which also features an advanced tour-based model of short-distance travel. Through this integration, it allows for behavioral consistency within the entire model system and competition among all travelers for transportation capacity. Lessons are learned about the data needs and research needs to further improve long-distance travel models.

Typology of Travelers Based on Their Annual Intercity Travel Patterns Developed from 2013 Longitudinal Survey of Overnight Travel

“…While sociodemographics are fundamental variables in travel demand models (23)(24)(25), many researchers recognize the importance of supplementing these factors with variables that provide detailed information on trip choices and behaviors (19,26,27). These biases and motivations can be inferred from observed choices and behaviors to reveal important travel motivators that advance the understanding of why travelers visit certain destinations, choose certain modes, make certain numbers of trips, and so on (14,24).…”

Valuation of travel time for international long-distance travel – results from the Fehmarn Belt stated choice experiment

“…An explanation for this is that long-distance trips tend to be relatively less affected by local trade-offs in the route choice resulting from congestion, bottlenecks, or geographical barriers. As a result, econometric estimation of VTTS becomes difficult and a common approach is to exogenously impose the VTTS by looking at relevant studies within the same travel context or national standards (Erhardt et al, 2007;Rich and Mabit, 2012). Beyond the econometric challenge of dealing with correlation, which in turn affects the identification of VTTS, another challenge is that VTTS may be correlated with other travel aspects (Rohr et al, 2010).…”

A study of visitors' leisure travel behavior in the northwest territories of Canada

“…Further, the descriptive analysis studies focus on broad main trip purposes, which describe the long-distance activity component of travel described above (see, for example, Gitelson and Kerstetter, 1990;Hsieh et al, 1997;Hwang and Fesenmaier, 2003;Hackney, 2004;Kemperman et al, 2006;Erhardt et al, 2007). Not surprisingly, there is even disagreement on how these broad main trip purposes should be defined to best describe the combinations of activities individuals pursue during a trip (e.g.…”

“…The long-distance activity component of this type of travel describes individuals' choice of main trip purpose, primary transport mode, and primary destination (Herriges and Phaneuf, 2000). Once individuals reach their destination, they then decide which activities to pursue on a daily basis as part of the shortdistance activity component (Erhardt et al, 2007). Decisions at both levels are made to maximize the number and quality of activities individuals can participate in during their trip (Simma et al, 2002).…”