Impact of Transportation Infrastructure Development on Modal Choice

Abstract

Due to parallel infrastructure developments in both automobile and alternative transport systems, a modal shift from the automobile to alternative modes has not occurred at its expected level, because of people’s affection for the automobile. In this situation, the necessity of imposing a strategic and appropriate gap between demand and supply of auto-related transportation infrastructure is identified first in this paper. Secondly, several models are developed to calculate demand of auto-related road infrastructure both empirically and theoretically. After that, an index of gap between demand and supply of auto-related road infrastructure is developed, and its relations to travel behavior and land uses are analyzed. In this regard, cities are classified based on their population size and density and level of transit service. Research results show a significant relation of gap index to modal shares and land uses.