ENERGY SAVINGS FOR WORK TRIPS: ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE COMMUTING PATTERNS FOR NEW JERSEY

This paper analyzes energy consumption for work trips in New Jersey. Prepared as an aid to the New Jersey Task Force on Energy, it develops a methodology to quantitatively compare alternative transportation policies intended to reduce energy consumption. Data were oblained on work trip distribution, transit patronage, and modal split for each of the 21 counties in New Jersey for 1970. From these data, work trip lengths and automobile and transit occupancy rates were calculated. Based on these as inputs to a model that predicted total work trip energy utilization, the total daily energy consumption was computed for work trips of New Jersey residents. Modal split, energy per vehicle mile (kilometer), and vehicle occupancy rates were then varied to test alternative strategies for reducing energy consumption. In general, the results of this analysis showed that, given current work trip patterns, greater savings in energy could be achieved by using automobiles than by increasing public transit patronage. Specific policy recommendations were then outlined for automobile and public transit planning.