New Transit Cooperative Research Program Research Confirms Transit-Oriented Developments Produce Fewer Auto Trips

Abstract

In order to provide data to support its contention that transit-oriented development (TOD) results in different travel behavior than conventional development, the Transit Cooperative Research Program recently initiated a study to investigate the number of trips taken by residents living in a TOD; the factors that determine the behavior and motivation of TOD residents, employees and employers in their mode choice; and the best ways to promote TOD-related transit ridership. Seventeen TOD housing projects in 4 metropolitan areas were studied. The findings indicate that Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip generation and parking generation rates overestimate automobile trips for TOD housing by approximately 50%. The study also showed that TOD households were twice as likely to not own a car than comparable households not living in TODs. Transit ridership was positively correlated to the extensiveness of the transit system, amount of traffic congestion and higher parking costs. The findings from this study can be applied to the creation of new parking and trip generation rates in order to capture the benefits of TOD and the investment in transit.

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