Evaluating and Modeling Traveler Response to Real-Time Information in the Pioneer Valley

• Main Author: De Ruiter, Tyler
• Format: Others
• Published: ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst 2012
• Subjects: Traveler Information; Traveler Behavior; Switching; Logit Model; Revealed Preferences; Civil Engineering; Other Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/882; https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2004&context=theses

This study used focus groups and surveys to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the Regional Traveler Information Center (RTIC) at UMass Amherst. The evaluation was completed by obtaining the awareness, usage, and perceived effectiveness of RTIC’s information by residents in the Pioneer Valley. It was found that awareness of RTIC is limited due to its lack of advertisement. Usage is focused primarily on its webcams and advisory information. Surveys showed that participants perceive RTIC to be useful, even though they may never have seen the information before (the survey provided a chance for them to become familiar with the service). Revealed preference data were collected regarding the travelers' most memorable instances where real-time traffic information was provided. A binary logit model of a traveler's switch decision (route, departure time, mode, destination, trip cancellation, or combinations of them) with real-time traffic information was specified and estimated. It was found that travelers have an increasing tendency to switch away from the original option when the resulting delay caused by congestion increases. Receiving congestion and crash information also provided a tendency to take an alternative travel method. It was found that males tend to switch more often than females, and young individuals switch less often.