Travel Demand

Traffic

Level of Service, the Wrong Performance Measure

The use of level of service (LOS) to gauge the success of roadway networks has shaped and influenced cities in many negative ways.

March 29, 2019 - Brookings / The Avenue

Nighttime Traffic

Peak Car Revisited

U.S. vehicle travel increased 3.2% (8.6 billion vehicle miles) in total and 2.0% per capita between Junes 2015 and 2016. That is a new peak in total VMT, but a 2.75% reduction in per capita VMT. Will these growth rates continue into the future?

August 27, 2016 - Peak Car Revisited

Young Driver

Millennials Are in Motion, But Not Necessarily by Car

A new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Frontier Group shows mounting evidence that the Millennial generation’s dramatic shift away from driving is more than temporary. Planning must change to accommodate these demands.

October 16, 2014 - Millennials in Motion: Changing Travel Habits of Young Americans and the Implications for Public Policy

Famous Mexico City traffic

New Study Predicts Vehicle Travel Saturation Levels

A new RAND Corporation study models motorization growth rates and saturation levels, and identifies potential policies to encourage more efficient transportation in developing countries.

July 27, 2014 - The Future of Driving in Developing Countries

Commute

A Critical Evaluation of the USDOT Conditions and Performance Report

The “Status of the Nation’s Highways, Bridges, and Transit: Conditions and Performance, Report To Congress” is intended to provide a comprehensive and objective evaluation of our transportation system. Let’s evaluate this evaluation.

May 8, 2014 - Todd Litman

Wrong Way

USDOT Continues to Overestimate Future Vehicle Travel - When Will They Learn?

The USDOT's "Conditions & Performance Report" predicts that VMT will grow between 1.36% and 1.85%, although current demographic and economic trends have resulted in flat or negative growth in recent years. Why won't they learn?

March 11, 2014 - State Smart Transportation Initiative

Zipcar

Car-Sharing Already Impacting Auto Sales

Demographic and economic trends, and improving transport options, including more carsharing services, are contributing to a long-term decline in automobile ownership and use.

February 5, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Changing Travel Demands: Implications for Planning

The graph below shows the most recent USDOT vehicle-travel data covering the last 25 years. Although vehicle-miles of travel (VMT) grew steadily during most of the Twentieth Century, in recent years the growth rate stopped and even declined a little. It is now about 10% below where it would have been had past trends continued.

August 22, 2010 - Todd Litman

Travel Demands Are A-Changing: So Should Our Spending

Politicians and planners be warned: you will now be judged according to your ability to improve walking, cycling and public transit services.  

April 12, 2009 - Todd Litman

Top Books

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Top Websites

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Top Apps

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Top Schools

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.