Equal Access? Travel Behaviour Change in the Century Freeway Corridor, Los Angeles

Abstract

Construction and operation of the Century Freeway (1-105) created problems for and presented opportunities to the socioeconomically diverse south Los Angeles County area. Early decisions regarding the interstate facility effected economic decline of the area, encouraging disinvestment and forcing dislocation of residents. However, construction and operation provided job and housing opportunities in a depressed area, relieved urban congestion on arterial streets and other highways and provided a direct route to Los Angeles International Airport. In this study, travel behaviour benefits to local residents are analysed. We report modest changes in routes taken to work and shopping, general satisfaction with time and money savings associated with the system and impressive subsistence travel-time decreases for automobile trips. However travel-time benefits are not shared equally across ethnic groups and geographical locations. We discuss these findings in the context of higher percentages of central city-area residents reporting that the Century is not a route to work for them.