Cite as:

Wasserman, D., Singleton, P., Foster, D., & Young, G. (2022, November). Mode Shift Potential Evaluations Using Desire Lines & Connections to Active Functional Classification Systems. UTRAC. Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pgGuYsJ_fAnR6sF6LSKJ_H81he1bB5vy/view

Abstract

Understanding which active transportation facilities have a high potential for mode shift is a potent metric of success for funders seeking to make high-impact transportation investments. This report documents the development and validation of a traveler alignment analysis tool that looks at the orientation and magnitude of short trips in origin-destination (OD) data to evaluate mode shift potential. This alignment analysis operates by using line features created by a Utah statewide OD matrix of vehicle trips taken from Replica Places’ activity-based modeling data platform. OD lines were then further disaggregated using a preprocessing technique known as jittering, that creates sub-OD pairs from more aggregated ones to make them more geographically diffuse and relevant to active transportation. To tune parameters related to proximity, angle, and trip distance, a sensitivity analysis was conducted comparing similar mode shift potential indices generated by the alignment analysis and 25 StreetLight Data pass-through zone analysis. This sensitivity analysis found that this method can produce reasonable results that can be used to evaluate different projects and provided some indication of what thresholds for different tool parameters were most suitable. A demonstration of this quick-response tool using Transportation Investment Fund (TIF) active facilities was submitted to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for evaluation, and its outputs illustrate that this tool can be a useful complement to existing prioritization criteria for consideration.

Transportation Research Board Publication - 2023

A TRB Publication on this research can be found at:
Young, G., Wasserman, D., Foster, D., Singleton, P. A., & Tomlin, S. (2023). Evaluating Segment-Level Active Mode Shift Potential Using Desire Lines. Transportation Research Record, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981231175155