Evaluating the Effects of Traveler and Trip Characteristics on Trip Chaining, with Implications for Transportation Demand Management Strategies

Abstract

The relative effect that each of a wide variety of factors has on the extent to which a traveler will chain trips was investigated. The objectives were to empirically determine which factors influence a traveler’s tendency to chain two or more trips within one tour, as well as the relative significance of these considerations; to more specifically determine the level of influence that urban centers have on trip chaining; and to evaluate the potential effects on trip-chaining behavior of specific transportation demand management (TDM) strategies through examination of variables that describe effects associated with TDM. A negative binomial regression model was developed in which the number of trips in a chain is related to household characteristics, traveler characteristics, trip characteristics, and urban form. After the model was estimated, the significance of individual variables was analyzed. Characteristics from each of these categories were found to be statistically significant. A number of the significant variables help to describe effects of specific TDM strategies, and the relative effects of these variables on trip-chaining behavior were addressed. Some of the variables representing TDM strategies increased the level of trip chaining, whereas other variables decreased the level of chaining. Potential policy conflicts between trip chaining and specific TDM programs are discussed.