Impacts of the Northridge Earthquake on transit and highway use

Abstract

The Northridge earthquake provided a unique opportunity to examine travel behavior responses to a major emergency. We examine travel patterns in two heavily damaged transportation corridors to determine how trip patterns changed over the recovery period. Our research evaluates the behavioral response to changing transportation supply conditions and the extent to which transit is a viable substitute for the private vehicle under emergency conditions. We also examine cost and subsidy outcomes of the increased supply of transit for emergency response.