Incorporating Sustainability Factors into the Urban Mobility Report: A Draft Concept Paper
Author(s):
T.J. Lomax, D.L. Schrank
Publication Date:
August 2010
Abstract:
Travel mobility and traffic congestion have always affected quality of life, especially in the urban areas. Cognizant of these factors, the author presented enhancements that would result in an Urban Mobility Report that focuses more directly on sustainability issues. The author used information from the National Household Transportation Survey to identify the percentage of peak-period trips made by using alternative methods to private or commercial vehicles. These include using public transportation, biking, and walking. When possible, local conditions were considered because the percentage of travel via these modes differs in each area. The proposed changes to the Urban Mobility Report include incorporating travel by modes that are not usually included in the report. To estimate key performance measures, the 2010 report will use very detailed travel speed data that include hourly speeds on major roads from the INRIX National Average Speed database. Drafters of the report will create two additional measurement approaches: 1) travel by public transportation, walking, and cycling; and 2) illustrating mobility contribution of telecommuters or those who work from home. Data from the National Household Transportation Survey will help identify the percentage of peak-period trips made via alternative modes to private or commercial vehicles. Because of these revisions, the succeeding versions of the Urban Mobility Report will be able to begin discussions on the congestion effects of changes to non-motorized travel, public transportation service, or telecommuting. Likewise, these changes continue the process of incorporating other transportation strategies that influence agency and traveler decisions in the future.
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