IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v99y2017icp1-13.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Understanding the effects of transit benefits on employees’ travel behavior: Evidence from the New York-New Jersey region

Author

Listed:
  • Bueno, Paola Carolina
  • Gomez, Juan
  • Peters, Jonathan R.
  • Vassallo, Jose Manuel

Abstract

Implementing effective travel demand management measures provides an opportunity to reduce transport dependence on the private car. There is growing acknowledgement that the strategy of implementing transit benefits may boost transit ridership and reduce personal vehicle use. This research contributes to the understanding of this issue by examining the relationship between commuter benefits and mode choice for commuting trips in the states of New York and New Jersey (US). Based on individual data from the Regional Household Travel Survey conducted by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council and North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, we adopted a multinomial logit model to identify the extent to which transport benefits to employees – including public transport-related, private transport-related and benefits for walking and cycling – promote changes in commuters’ modal split. The analysis shows that commuter benefits play a significant role in explaining observed travel patterns. Benefit programs that pay for auto expenses (e.g. toll payments, mileage reimbursement, free parking) are negatively correlated with transit, biking, and walking, while employer-funded benefit programs for transit passes and bike reimbursements increase their respective mode shares. This result confirms that promoting these types of measures is an effective policy to encourage the use of public transport modes, thus increasing efficiency and sustainability in daily mobility patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Bueno, Paola Carolina & Gomez, Juan & Peters, Jonathan R. & Vassallo, Jose Manuel, 2017. "Understanding the effects of transit benefits on employees’ travel behavior: Evidence from the New York-New Jersey region," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1-13.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:99:y:2017:i:c:p:1-13
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2017.02.009
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856416303986
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2017.02.009?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    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. Oliver Lipps & Uwe Kunert, 2005. "Measuring and Explaining the Increase of Travel Distance: A Multilevel Analysis Using Repeated Cross Sectional Travel Surveys," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 492, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Buehler, Ralph, 2011. "Determinants of transport mode choice: a comparison of Germany and the USA," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 644-657.
    3. Cass, Noel & Faulconbridge, James, 2016. "Commuting practices: New insights into modal shift from theories of social practice," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 1-14.
    4. Kevin Washbrook & Wolfgang Haider & Mark Jaccard, 2006. "Estimating commuter mode choice: A discrete choice analysis of the impact of road pricing and parking charges," Transportation, Springer, vol. 33(6), pages 621-639, November.
    5. Habibian, Meeghat & Kermanshah, Mohammad, 2013. "Coping with congestion: Understanding the role of simultaneous transportation demand management policies on commuters," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 229-237.
    6. Dill, Jennifer & Weinstein, Asha, 2007. "How to pay for transportation? A survey of public preferences in California," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 346-356, July.
    7. Shoup, Donald C. & Willson, Richard W., 1992. "Employer-Paid Parking: The Problem and Proposed Solutions," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt2x6240jr, University of California Transportation Center.
    8. Train,Kenneth E., 2009. "Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521766555.
    9. Gärling, Tommy & Eek, Daniel & Loukopoulos, Peter & Fujii, Satoshi & Johansson-Stenman, Olof & Kitamura, Ryuichi & Pendyala, Ram & Vilhelmson, Bertil, 2002. "A conceptual analysis of the impact of travel demand management on private car use," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 59-70, January.
    10. Meyer, Michael D., 1999. "Demand management as an element of transportation policy: using carrots and sticks to influence travel behavior," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 33(7-8), pages 575-599.
    11. repec:ucp:bkecon:9781884829987 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Eva Heinen & Kees Maat & Bert Wee, 2013. "The effect of work-related factors on the bicycle commute mode choice in the Netherlands," Transportation, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 23-43, January.
    13. Rotaris, Lucia & Danielis, Romeo, 2015. "Commuting to college: The effectiveness and social efficiency of transportation demand management policies," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 158-168.
    14. Bhadra, Dipasis, 2005. "Choice of Aircraft Fleets in the U.S. Domestic Scheduled Air Transportation System: Findings from a Multinomial Logit Analysis," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 44(3).
    15. Schwanen, Tim & Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2005. "What Affects Commute Mode Choice: Neighborhood Physical Structure or Preferences Toward Neighborhoods?," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt4nq9r1c9, University of California Transportation Center.
    16. Bert van Wee, 2009. "Self‐Selection: A Key to a Better Understanding of Location Choices, Travel Behaviour and Transport Externalities?," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 279-292, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Xiaodong & Zhou, Yuan & Rau, Andreas, 2019. "Smart card data-centric replication of the multi-modal public transport system in Singapore," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 254-264.
    2. Kębłowski, Wojciech & Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Boussauw, Kobe, 2022. "Moving past sustainable transport studies: Towards a critical perspective on urban transport," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 74-83.
    3. Bartle, Caroline & Chatterjee, Kiron, 2019. "Employer perceptions of the business benefits of sustainable transport: A case study of peri-urban employment areas in South West England," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 297-313.
    4. Deka, Devajyoti & Carnegie, Jon, 2021. "Predicting transit mode choice of New Jersey workers commuting to New York City from a stated preference survey," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Shin, Eun Jin, 2021. "Exploring the causal impact of transit fare exemptions on older adults’ travel behavior: Evidence from the Seoul metropolitan area," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 319-338.
    6. Guzman, Luis A. & Arellana, Julian & Alvarez, Vilma, 2020. "Confronting congestion in urban areas: Developing Sustainable Mobility Plans for public and private organizations in Bogotá," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 321-335.
    7. Dėdelė, Audrius & Miškinytė, Auksė & Andrušaitytė, Sandra & Nemaniūtė-Gužienė, Jolanta, 2020. "Dependence between travel distance, individual socioeconomic and health-related characteristics, and the choice of the travel mode: a cross-sectional study for Kaunas, Lithuania," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    8. Gang Cheng & Shuzhi Zhao & Di Huang, 2018. "Understanding the Effects of Improving Transportation on Pilgrim Travel Behavior: Evidence from the Lhasa, Tibet, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-13, October.
    9. Liu, Jixiang & Wang, Bo & Xiao, Longzhu, 2021. "Non-linear associations between built environment and active travel for working and shopping: An extreme gradient boosting approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    10. Longzhu Xiao & Linchuan Yang & Jixiang Liu & Hongtai Yang, 2020. "Built Environment Correlates of the Propensity of Walking and Cycling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    11. Shin, Eun Jin, 2020. "Commuter benefits programs: Impacts on mode choice, VMT, and spillover effects," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 11-22.
    12. Wang, Yacan & Geng, Kexin & May, Anthony D. & Zhou, Huiyu, 2022. "The impact of traffic demand management policy mix on commuter travel choices," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 74-87.
    13. Kumagai, Junya & Managi, Shunsuke, 2019. "Environmental behaviour and choice of sustainable travel mode in urban areas: comparative evidence from commuters in Asian cities," MPRA Paper 97493, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Wang, Bing & Li, Shuai & Wang, Qi & Lin, Zhenhong, 2020. "Understanding travelers’ mobility decisions in response to customer incentives," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 113-120.
    15. Brown, Austin L. & Sperling, Daniel & Austin, Bernadette & DeShazo, JR & Fulton, Lew & Lipman, Timothy & Murphy, Colin W & Saphores, Jean Daniel & Tal, Gil & Abrams, Carolyn & Chakraborty, Debapriya &, 2021. "Driving California’s Transportation Emissions to Zero," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt3np3p2t0, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    16. Romero, Fernando & Gomez, Juan & Paez, Antonio & Vassallo, José Manuel, 2020. "Toll roads vs. Public transportation: A study on the acceptance of congestion-calming measures in Madrid," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 319-342.
    17. Wojciech Keblowski & Frédéric Dobruszkes & Kobe Boussauw, 2022. "Moving past sustainable transport studies: Towards a critical perspective on urban transport," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/341191, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

    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. Su, Qing & Zhou, Liren, 2012. "Parking management, financial subsidies to alternatives to drive alone and commute mode choices in Seattle," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1-2), pages 88-97.
    2. Chakrabarti, Sandip, 2017. "How can public transit get people out of their cars? An analysis of transit mode choice for commute trips in Los Angeles," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 80-89.
    3. Wang, Yacan & Geng, Kexin & May, Anthony D. & Zhou, Huiyu, 2022. "The impact of traffic demand management policy mix on commuter travel choices," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 74-87.
    4. Moeinaddini, Amin & Habibian, Meeghat, 2023. "Transportation demand management policy efficiency: An attempt to address the effectiveness and acceptability of policy packages," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 317-330.
    5. Gang Cheng & Shuzhi Zhao & Di Huang, 2018. "Understanding the Effects of Improving Transportation on Pilgrim Travel Behavior: Evidence from the Lhasa, Tibet, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Kamruzzaman, Md. & Baker, Douglas & Washington, Simon & Turrell, Gavin, 2013. "Residential dissonance and mode choice," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 12-28.
    7. Jun Guan Neoh & Maxwell Chipulu & Alasdair Marshall, 2017. "What encourages people to carpool? An evaluation of factors with meta-analysis," Transportation, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 423-447, March.
    8. Dogterom, Nico & Ettema, Dick & Dijst, Martin, 2018. "Behavioural effects of a tradable driving credit scheme: Results of an online stated adaptation experiment in the Netherlands," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 52-64.
    9. Wenjia Zhang & Ming Zhang, 2018. "Incorporating land use and pricing policies for reducing car dependence: Analytical framework and empirical evidence," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(13), pages 3012-3033, October.
    10. Echeverría, Lucía & Giménez-Nadal, J. Ignacio & Alberto Molina, José, 2022. "Who uses green mobility? Exploring profiles in developed countries," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 247-265.
    11. Ahmadi Azari, Kian & Arintono, Sulistyo & Hamid, Hussain & Rahmat, Riza Atiq O.K., 2013. "Modelling demand under parking and cordon pricing policy," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 1-9.
    12. De Vos, Jonas & Van Acker, Veronique & Witlox, Frank, 2014. "The influence of attitudes on Transit-Oriented Development: An explorative analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 326-329.
    13. Yusuke Sakata & Junyi Shen & Yoshizo Hashimoto, 2006. "The Influence of Environmental Deterioration and Network Improvement on Transport Modal Choice," Discussion Papers in Economics and Business 06-04, Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics.
    14. Lehner, Stephan & Peer, Stefanie, 2019. "The price elasticity of parking: A meta-analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 177-191.
    15. De Vos, Jonas & Derudder, Ben & Van Acker, Veronique & Witlox, Frank, 2012. "Reducing car use: changing attitudes or relocating? The influence of residential dissonance on travel behavior," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 1-9.
    16. Habibian, Meeghat & Kermanshah, Mohammad, 2013. "Coping with congestion: Understanding the role of simultaneous transportation demand management policies on commuters," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 229-237.
    17. Andani, I Gusti Ayu & La Paix Puello, Lissy & Geurs, Karst, 2021. "Modelling effects of changes in travel time and costs of toll road usage on choices for residential location, route and travel mode across population segments in the Jakarta-Bandung region, Indonesia," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 81-102.
    18. Evangelinos, Christos & Tscharaktschiew, Stefan & Marcucci, Edoardo & Gatta, Valerio, 2018. "Pricing workplace parking via cash-out: Effects on modal choice and implications for transport policy," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 369-380.
    19. Azari, Kian Ahmadi & Arintono, Sulistyo & Hamid, Hussain & Davoodi, Seyed Rasoul, 2013. "Evaluation of demand for different trip purposes under various congestion pricing scenarios," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 43-51.
    20. Janke, Julia, 2021. "Re-visiting residential self-selection and dissonance: Does intra-household decision-making change the results?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 379-401.

    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:99:y:2017:i:c:p:1-13. 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.