Built environment and modal choice; a case study

Compact, high density and mixed-used urban environments can exert a strong influence on the way people choose to travel. Very few studies, if any, have taken place in the developing world, particularly at the local scale. This paper reports on the relationship between the built environment and modal choice focusing mainly on three of its dimensions: density, diversity, and design. Such associations can provide urban and transportation professionals with valuable tools to assist them in policy appraisal and decision making. In order to analyze the relationship between modal choice and different measures of the built environment we use mobility and associated socio demographic data contained in the household travel survey performed in the city of Neuquen, Argentina during the year 2008. Urban environment variables are characterized for each of the zones in which the city was divided for the O-D survey. Generalized costs are considered as well. Modal split models are applied to assess the influence that built environment variables exert over the individual decision of traveling by car, ride transit, walk or bike. Dense, mixedused environments favor the decision to walk or bike to nearby destinations, discouraging private car use. Such environments also encourage the use of transit. Theoretical shortcomings, mixed and conflicting results and lack of consensus regarding methodological and variable measurement procedures are the main features of this trend of research. The analysis of a local case helps to clarify some of these points while widening the background for future research in an area that so far is limited to foreign experience. Our findings restate the importance of urban policies with regards to sustainable transportation.Fil: Riera, Alicia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Formación en Administración Pública; Argentina.Fil: Depiante, Violeta. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Otras Ingeniería Civi

Minor Street Gaps and Capacity at Unsignalized Intersections in Argentina

Capacity analysis for two way stop controlled (TWSC) intersections is mainly based on headway acceptance theory. Critical headways and follow up times are fundamental parameters in capacity estimation. Both factors clearly show the influence of driver behaviour on traffic operations. The critical headway parameter is typically associated with safety and operational performance of this intersection type. This paper explores critical headways and follow up times by analyzing data from video recorded tapes collected in urban intersections located in the city of Cordoba, Argentina in order to derive local values that can be used in capacity estimates at unsignalized intersections. Maximum likelihood methodology and regression analysis are employed. An exponential model is then used to assess the relationships between headways and capacity. Estimates for both headways are significantly smaller than the values given in version 2010 of the Highway Capacity Manual. Increased capacity, due to critical headway and follow up time reductions, becomes proportionally greater as conflicting flows grow. Percent differences increase while curves tend to get closer. From this point of view the conclusion is that intersections operate more efficiently, but also more dangerously.Fil: Depiante, Violeta S. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Maestría en Ciencias de la Ingeniería. Mención en Transporte; Argentina.Fil: Galarraga, Jorge J. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Maestría en Ciencias de la Ingeniería. Mención en Transporte; Argentina.Ingeniería del Transport