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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Tierra Bills
Abstract
Transportation infrastructure and services play a pivotal role in shaping societal dynamics, influencing accessibility, mobility, and overall quality of life. The design of transportation systems can either aggravate or alleviate social inequalities. Despite its importance, disparities persist in transportation access and mobility, particularly among disadvantaged communities. The challenge is that there is a lack of clear understanding of the complexity of travel activity patterns for these disadvantaged travelers. In addition to that, the lack of understanding about the travel behavior and needs of transport disadvantaged travelers is further complicated by representation issues in available household travel surveys. This dissertation seeks to address this gap by examining the distinct travel patterns of transport-disadvantaged groups and evaluating the representativeness of existing travel survey data.In addressing the shortcomings of understanding the travel behaviors of transport-disadvantaged travelers, this dissertation asked new questions on the complexity of travel activity patterns for disadvantaged travelers. Drawing from an activity-based perspective, the dissertation investigates the unique travel behaviors of disadvantaged communities. By analyzing travel activity patterns, disparities, and underlying factors shaping travel preferences, this research aims to provide valuable insights into the complexities of transportation access and mobility among disadvantaged groups. Further on, this dissertation examines the intricate interplay between transport disadvantage and travel pattern complexity, with a particular emphasis on race. Furthermore, the dissertation assesses the performance of travel surveys in accurately representing diverse demographic groups. In this dissertation, multiple travel surveys were gathered and examined across the United States. A novel metric is developed to gauge relative representativeness, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of these survey data across multiple demographics. This new metric is a factor of the population sample weights in travel surveys and its applicability extends to other weighted surveys. By identifying biases and shortcomings in current survey methodologies, this study contributes to enhancing the inclusivity and accuracy of transportation data collection efforts. The research makes significant contributions to transportation planning and policy-making by illuminating the challenges faced by transport-disadvantaged communities and offering insights into addressing equity issues in transportation. Additionally, by providing a robust methodology for evaluating survey representativeness, this dissertation empowers metropolitan organizations to collect more accurate and inclusive transportation data, thereby fostering equitable transportation planning and decision-making processes. Finally, this dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of travel behavior among disadvantaged communities and offers practical solutions for enhancing equity in transportation planning and decision-making.
Recommended Citation
Esekhaigbe, Eronmonsele, "Understanding Travel Behavior And Representativeness In Transportation Surveys: A Focus On Disadvantaged Communities" (2024). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4037.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4037
