This report documents the development of a ridership model at the stop level for Transit Level of Service (TLOS), a software package of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for measuring transit availability and mobility. This report is in two separate parts. This first part discusses issues in formulating a ridership model on several aspects, including literature review, the study area, analytical framework, data needs, and model-formulation issues. For each issue, the discussion focuses on the alternative approaches to dealing with the issue, any resolution, and CUTR's recommendation, if different from the resolution. The second part discusses the data made available by Kittelson and Associates, Inc. under a separate contract with the FDOT, the data used for model estimation, and the selection of a final model. The final model relates average weekday boarding at a TLOS stop with six categories of factors: 1) socio-demographics in a catchment area; 2) TLOS value; 3) the street environment for pedestrians; 4) accessibility to population and employment; 5) interaction with other modes; and 6) competition with other TLOS stops. Despite some data limitations, the model fits the data well and behaves as expected.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The purpose of Phase I of this study was to develop a research design to better establish the relationship between transit oriented development (TOD) and travel mode share. The initial hypothesis that good quality transit combined with good quality TOD would succeed in shifting travelers from singleoccupant vehicle travel to transit was found to be an oversimplification. Good quality transit service is necessary and good quality TOD is likely helpful and important to shifting mode share but not sufficient. Other necessary factors include supporting elements of the larger urban spatial structure, disincentives to driving alone, favorable marketability of TOD for non-transportation reasons, and incentives to use transit. Research literature suggests that elements of urban form are perhaps not the most important determinants of travel behavior, specifically mode choice, number of trips taken and length of trips. However, urban form does appear to exert some kind of influence, and for that reason, it is worthwhile to further specify the relationship to ascertain how policy initiatives relating to TOD can support the goal to balance mode share in the direction of greater transit use. To better define the elements of TOD that shape travel behavior, this study describes a research design for the development of a panel survey, using recently developed cell phone technology, to track the same individuals and households over time. Using a pre-test post-test design, the survey data collected for a region in Florida would be a sound investment for improved travel forecasting, modeling and other uses.