Effect of Employment Site Characteristics on Commute Mode Choice

Abstract

Considerable effort has been made in recent years to resolve traffic congestion problems in metropolitan areas. The effects of employment site characteristics on commuting mode choice in the metropolitan area of Haifa, Israel, were studied. The analysis is based on trip diary data that included 4,794 commuting trips. In the first part of the investigation, the effect of different types of employment site on commuting mode choice was studied through aggregate analysis. In the second part, a four-mode multinomial model was developed. The results show a high rate of commuting by private vehicles in which the commuter is the driver. Commuters who have access to a private car are most likely to use it. High rates of commuting by bus are reported to employment sites located near the metropolitan central business district, local business employment sites, and areas with a high frequency of bus services. High rates of commuting by employer-provided transport were identified to suburban sites, industry sites, and areas with a low frequency of bus service. The research concludes that although automobile availability is the most important factor in mode choice, some employment site variables also have significant explanatory power.