Investigating the role of relative level‐of‐service characteristics in explaining mode split for the work trip

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation into the role that relative Level‐of‐Service (LOS) characteristics of travel modes play in explaining heterogeneity of work‐trip mode split. The LOS characteristics examined in this study include cost and travel time of modes. The investigation is carried out primarily through a comparative analysis between mode split models with and without LOS measures. A total of four models are developed, three of which are binary trees constructed using a non‐parametric procedure known as Classification and Regression Trees (CART). The results show that relative LOS characteristics explain a modest portion of the mode split heterogeneity. The analysis detects correlation between LOS measures and other explanatory variables. The results also show that mode split appears to vary with relative LOS at a higher rate for trips in corridors where the transit service is superior to or comparable with the auto service than for trips in corridors better served by auto. In contrast, auto ownership appears to vary with relative LOS at a higher rate for trips in corridors better served by auto. The implications of these findings to the practice of transportation planning are presented in the paper.