Abstract
While transit-oriented developments (TODs) are generally believed to promote the use of sustainable travel modes, the degree to which various components of TODs influence travel behavior is still debatable. This paper revisits Chatman’s (2013) question: “Does TOD need the T?” by addressing the effect of rail transit access in influencing walking behavior in TOD areas. In particular, we compare TODs to other similar areas, with rail transit access being the key variable, and examine whether people are more likely to walk in TODs for purposes other than transit use. This hypothesis is tested using traffic analysis zones (TAZs) in the Atlanta Metropolitan Region. First, we identify TAZs within rail catchment areas and use propensity scores to match them with other TAZs with similar built environmental characteristics except for rail transit access. We then conduct a statistical analysis comparing walking trips for both commuting and non-commuting trips in these two TAZ groups. Our results confirm that the likelihood of walking trips increases in transit-accessible TAZs compared to other similar areas without transit. Therefore, states and localities can maximize the benefits of pedestrian-friendly built environments by making rail transit access an important part of their planning and design.
Highlights
The vast and growing literature on the relationship between built environment and travel behavior has generally indicated that particular urban forms, such as transit-oriented development (TOD), encourage the use of public transit and non-motorized transportation (Greenwald & Boarnet, 2001; Ewing & Cervero, 2010)
While his study focuses on automobile miles driven in TOD areas, we examine walking activities that originate from such areas in this paper
Nasri and Zhang (2014) found that residents living in TOD areas were more likely to have between 21% and 38% lower vehicle miles traveled (VMT) than those living in non-TOD areas
Summary
The vast and growing literature on the relationship between built environment and travel behavior has generally indicated that particular urban forms, such as transit-oriented development (TOD), encourage the use of public transit and non-motorized transportation (Greenwald & Boarnet, 2001; Ewing & Cervero, 2010). Several studies have shown that proper design of TODs encourages people to own fewer vehicles, drive less, and use more non-motorized modes of travel (Pushkarev & Zupan, 1977; Cervero, Murphy, Ferrell, Goguts, & Tsai, 2004; Evans, Pratt, Stryker, & Kuzmyak, 2007; Haas, Miknaitis, Cooper, Young, & Benedict, 2010; Suzuki, Cervero, & Iuchi, 2013; Gallivan, Rose, Ewing, Hamidi, & Brown, 2015) These studies identified high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly environments, and quality public transit facilities and service as key characteristics of TODs that encourage people to drive less and walk more. We found a strong positive association between the presence of rail transit access and the level of walking activity for both commuting and non-commuting trips, ceteris paribus, which may have significant planning implications
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