A Model For Assessing Land Use Impacts OnDriving Costs

Abstract

Interaction between urban form and transportation costs has been a much debated issue during the past decades. Density influences travel behaviour, since individuals must travel farther when land use patterns become more dispersed. This study tries to assess density effects on transportation in terms of money, by calculating additional costs of travel due to decreasing residential density. First, a linear model was implemented in order to foretell urban density. Then we turn these densities in travel demand by means of a relationship between density and transportation variables. Finally, we convert travel demand into internal and external costs. The model was tested in a small urban area in Southern Italy. A comparison of total commuting costs was made by comparing the actual situation with two possible future scenarios. As is to be expected, laying down new roads in peripheral areas should increase travel demand and transportation costs, as a consequence of decreasing densities.