TRANSIT SERVICE, PARKING CHARGES, AND MODE CHOICE FOR THE JOURNEY TO WORK: AN ANALYSIS OF THE 1990 NPTS

In this paper, the effects of transit service and parking charges on the choice of commuters to drive alone, carpool, or use transit are estimated. The analysis is based on data for 20 Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas from the 1990 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, FTA's Section 15, and the Texas Transportation Institute's estimates of traffic congestion. Both the level of transit service and the likelihood of being charged for parking are found to have significant positive effects on the likelihood of choosing transit for the commute. The results also indicate that improving transit access leads to a very small increase in transit's mode share, while improving the level of service produces a much greater mode share increase.