IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v43y2009i7p639-653.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An investigation of commuting trip timing and mode choice in the Greater Toronto Area: Application of a joint discrete-continuous model

Author

Listed:
  • Nurul Habib, Khandker M.
  • Day, Nicholas
  • Miller, Eric J.

Abstract

The trip timing and mode choice are two critical decisions of individual commuters mostly define peak period traffic congestion in urban areas. Due to the increasing evidence in many North American cities that the duration of the congested peak travelling periods is expanding (peak spreading), it becomes necessary and natural to investigate these two commuting decisions jointly. In addition to being considered jointly with mode choice decisions, trip timing must also be modelled as a continuous variable in order to precisely capture peak spreading trends in a policy sensitive transportation demand model. However, in the literature to date, these two fundamental decisions have largely been treated separately or in some cases as integrated discrete decisions for joint investigation. In this paper, a discrete-continuous econometric model is used to investigate the joint decisions of trip timing and mode choice for commuting trips in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The joint model, with a multinomial logit model for mode choice and a continuous time hazard model for trip timing, allows for unrestricted correlation between the unobserved factors influencing these two decisions. Models are estimated by occupation groups using 2001 travel survey data for the GTA. Across all occupation groups, strong correlations between unobserved factors influencing mode choice and trip timing are found. Furthermore, the estimated model proves that it sufficiently captures the peak spreading phenomenon and is capable of being applied within the activity-based travel demand model framework.

Suggested Citation

  • Nurul Habib, Khandker M. & Day, Nicholas & Miller, Eric J., 2009. "An investigation of commuting trip timing and mode choice in the Greater Toronto Area: Application of a joint discrete-continuous model," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 639-653, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:43:y:2009:i:7:p:639-653
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965-8564(09)00053-6
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Small, Kenneth A, 1987. "A Discrete Choice Model for Ordered Alternatives," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 55(2), pages 409-424, March.
    2. Arentze, Theo A. & Timmermans, Harry J. P., 2004. "A learning-based transportation oriented simulation system," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 613-633, August.
    3. Train,Kenneth E., 2009. "Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521766555.
    4. Lee, Lung-Fei, 1983. "Generalized Econometric Models with Selectivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 51(2), pages 507-512, March.
    5. Hess, Stephane & Daly, Andrew & Rohr, Charlene & Hyman, Geoff, 2007. "On the development of time period and mode choice models for use in large scale modelling forecasting systems," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(9), pages 802-826, November.
    6. de Jong, Gerard & Daly, Andrew & Pieters, Marits & Vellay, Carine & Bradley, Mark & Hofman, Frank, 2003. "A model for time of day and mode choice using error components logit," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 245-268, May.
    7. Ettema, Dick & Bastin, Fabian & Polak, John & Ashiru, Olu, 2007. "Modelling the joint choice of activity timing and duration," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(9), pages 827-841, November.
    8. Bhat, Chandra R., 1996. "A generalized multiple durations proportional hazard model with an application to activity behavior during the evening work-to-home commute," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 465-480, December.
    9. Kiefer, Nicholas M, 1988. "Economic Duration Data and Hazard Functions," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 26(2), pages 646-679, June.
    10. Ozbay, Kaan & Yanmaz-Tuzel, Ozlem, 2008. "Valuation of travel time and departure time choice in the presence of time-of-day pricing," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 577-590, May.
    11. Bhat, Chandra R., 1998. "Analysis of travel mode and departure time choice for urban shopping trips," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 361-371, August.
    12. Lee, Backjin & Timmermans, Harry J.P., 2007. "A latent class accelerated hazard model of activity episode durations," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 426-447, May.
    13. Ram Pendyala & Chandra Bhat, 2004. "An Exploration of the Relationship between Timing and Duration of Maintenance Activities," Transportation, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 429-456, November.
    14. Davidson, William & Donnelly, Robert & Vovsha, Peter & Freedman, Joel & Ruegg, Steve & Hicks, Jim & Castiglione, Joe & Picado, Rosella, 2007. "Synthesis of first practices and operational research approaches in activity-based travel demand modeling," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 464-488, June.
    15. Roorda, Matthew J. & Miller, Eric J. & Habib, Khandker M.N., 2008. "Validation of TASHA: A 24-h activity scheduling microsimulation model," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 360-375, February.
    16. Small, Kenneth A, 1982. "The Scheduling of Consumer Activities: Work Trips," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 72(3), pages 467-479, June.
    17. Bhat, Chandra R. & Steed, Jennifer L., 2002. "A continuous-time model of departure time choice for urban shopping trips," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 207-224, March.
    18. David Hensher & Tu Ton, 2002. "TRESIS: A transportation, land use and environmental strategy impact simulator for urban areas," Transportation, Springer, vol. 29(4), pages 439-457, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Khan, Mubassira & Machemehl, Randy, 2017. "Commercial vehicles time of day choice behavior in urban areas," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 68-83.
    2. Lizana, Pedro & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios & Arellana, Julián & Rizzi, Luis I., 2021. "Forecasting with a joint mode/time-of-day choice model based on combined RP and SC data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 302-316.
    3. Ho, Chinh Q. & Hensher, David A. & Wang, Shangbo, 2020. "Joint estimation of mode and time of day choice accounting for arrival time flexibility, travel time reliability and crowding on public transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. Ghader, Sepehr & Carrion, Carlos & Zhang, Lei, 2019. "Autoregressive continuous logit: Formulation and application to time-of-day choice modeling," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 240-257.
    5. Andrew Daly & Stephane Hess & Geoff Hyman & John Polak & Charlene Rohr, 2005. "Modelling departure time and mode choice," ERSA conference papers ersa05p688, European Regional Science Association.
    6. Sasic, Ana & Habib, Khandker Nurul, 2013. "Modelling departure time choices by a Heteroskedastic Generalized Logit (Het-GenL) model: An investigation on home-based commuting trips in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 15-32.
    7. Bwambale, Andrew & Choudhury, Charisma F. & Hess, Stephane, 2019. "Modelling departure time choice using mobile phone data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 424-439.
    8. José Holguín-Veras & Iván Sánchez-Díaz & Benjamin Reim, 2016. "ETC adoption, time-of-travel choice, and comprehensive policies to enhance time-of-day pricing: a stated preference investigation," Transportation, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 273-299, March.
    9. Zannat, Khatun E. & Choudhury, Charisma F. & Hess, Stephane, 2024. "Modelling time-of-travel preferences capturing correlations between departure times and activity durations," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    10. Jason D. Lemp & Kara M. Kockelman & Paul Damien, 2012. "A Bivariate Multinomial Probit Model for Trip Scheduling: Bayesian Analysis of the Work Tour," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(3), pages 405-424, August.
    11. Ozonder, Gozde & Miller, Eric J., 2021. "Longitudinal investigation of skeletal activity episode timing decisions – A copula approach," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    12. Brey, Raúl & Walker, Joan L., 2011. "Latent temporal preferences: An application to airline travel," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 880-895, November.
    13. Kato, Hironori & Kaneko, Yuichiro & Soyama, Yoshihiko, 2014. "Economic benefits of urban rail projects that improve travel-time reliability: Evidence from Tokyo, Japan," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 202-210.
    14. Lemp, Jason D. & Kockelman, Kara M. & Damien, Paul, 2010. "The continuous cross-nested logit model: Formulation and application for departure time choice," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 646-661, June.
    15. Stephane Hess & John Polak & Andrew Daly & Geoffrey Hyman, 2007. "Flexible substitution patterns in models of mode and time of day choice: new evidence from the UK and the Netherlands," Transportation, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 213-238, March.
    16. Thorhauge, Mikkel & Cherchi, Elisabetta & Rich, Jeppe, 2016. "How flexible is flexible? Accounting for the effect of rescheduling possibilities in choice of departure time for work trips," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 177-193.
    17. Dong, Han & Cirillo, Cinzia, 2020. "Space-time dynamics: A modeling approach for commuting departure time on linked datasets," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    18. Peer, Stefanie & Knockaert, Jasper & Koster, Paul & Tseng, Yin-Yen & Verhoef, Erik T., 2013. "Door-to-door travel times in RP departure time choice models: An approximation method using GPS data," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 134-150.
    19. de Jong, Gerard & Kouwenhoven, Marco & Ruijs, Kim & van Houwe, Pieter & Borremans, Dana, 2016. "A time-period choice model for road freight transport in Flanders based on stated preference data," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 20-31.
    20. Peter Davis & Pasquale Schiraldi, 2014. "The flexible coefficient multinomial logit (FC-MNL) model of demand for differentiated products," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 45(1), pages 32-63, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:43:y:2009:i:7:p:639-653. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.