Sensitivity of Level of Service in Shorthaul Market

Abstract

Current transportation planning requires a better understanding of the mode choice behavior of intercity passengers in the short‐haul market. Considerable work has been completed on the topic for the medium and long‐haul ranges, but a limited body of literature is addressed to the problem relative to the short‐haul market. In this study, an attempt has been made to construct behavioral models incorporating modal level of service attributes. An aggregate and a disaggregate mode choice model are formulated based on the logit function. Using linear and nonlinear regression for the calibration of the aggregate model, and the maximum likelihood estimation method for the disaggregate model, the formulations are tested for reliability and validity by comparing them with other published research findings. The model specification is found to be acceptable. For the data base used in this research, the log‐linear model produced better results. The method has been used to analyze the desirable strategy of local air services and to evaluate the sensitivity of the automobile user to highway conditions and highway tolls.