Comparability and transferability of commuter behavior characteristics between cities: departure time and route-switching decisions

Extensive diary surveys of commuter behavior were conducted in Dallas and Austin. These surveys provide data to characterize the day-to-day dynamics of commuter decisions, including departure time and route, for both morning and evening commutes. The data were used to develop user decision models that relate route and departure time switching patterns to socioeconomic characteristics, workplace conditions, and traffic system characteristics. Comparisons were made to assess the extent of transferability of behavioral findings and model parameters. Remarkable similarity was found in the general commuting behavior patterns observed in the two cities, such as greater switching activity in the evening than in the morning commute and greater frequency of departure time switching relative to route changes. Differences between the two cities appear to be primarily due to the larger size of Dallas.