Impacts of the Northridge Earthquake on transit and highway use

Abstract

The Northridge earthquake provided a unique opportunity to examine travel behavior responses to a major emergency. This paper examines travel patterns in two heavily damaged transportation corridors to determine how trip patterns changed over the recovery period. The research evaluates the behavioral response to changing transportation supply conditions and the extent to which transit is a viable substitute for the private vehicle under emergency conditions. The paper also examines cost and subsidy outcomes of the increased supply of transit for emergency response. The most striking characteristic of the changes in travel patterns observed in the post-earthquake period is flexibility. Travelers responded to the alternatives available. In one corridor, many commuters used commuter rail during the first few weeks, but shifted back to private vehicles as the detour routes were expanded. In both corridors, bus transit patronage did not change; the emergency bus services attracted few riders. To the extent possible in both corridors, travelers remained in their private vehicles and opted to shift routes, travel schedules, and destinations rather than shift to public transit or ridesharing. Cost and subsidy outcomes reflected these responses. The paper concludes that transportation system redundancy and the ability of individuals to make a variety of short-term adjustments in travel patterns makes rapid recovery possible even from major disasters.