Raha Pouladi

Graduation Semester and Year

2021

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Public Policy

Department

Urban and Public Affairs

First Advisor

Rod Hissong

Abstract

Studying travel behavior has become a means of addressing car dependency, greenhouse gas emission, and environmental protection. Many studies have examined the effects of socioeconomic and built environmental factors on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) but there is a limited literature examining the role of these factors on home-to-work distance. If one of the concepts of developing new freeways and toll roads is providing faster and more reliable commutes, then it is assumed that new high-speed road infrastructure will lead to a higher commuting distance. This study used the 2017 National Household Travel Survey, U.S. Census, GIS, and Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data to develop two models to analyze the effects of total mileage of limited access roads (tollway and highway) in urban areas on home-to-work distance. In addition, other socioeconomic, built environment, demographic, and behavioral factors were considered in these models as control variables. The findings indicated that an individual’s longer home-to-work distance is associated with more available mileage of limited access roads in the urban area of their home location. Meanwhile, more density, land use diversity, home value, and job/housing balance in the block group of the individual’s home location has an inverse effect on the individual’s home-to-work distance. In addition, individuals who have a higher household income, are older, or are male have a longer home-to-work distance.

Keywords

Home-to-work Distance Limited access road Commuting distance Tollway Highway HLM

Disciplines

Public Affairs | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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