CBD oriented commuters' mode and residential location choices in an urban area with surface streets and rail transit lines

Abstract

This study formulates a commuters' mode and route choice model as well as a households' residential choice model on a two-dimensional space. The commuters' mode and route choice model assumes that commuters select the mode and route alternative based on the least generalized travel cost. The households' residential choice model is formulated to maximize households' residential utilities subject to time and budget constraints. A simulation method is adopted to simulate household choice behavior and solve the households' residential location choice model with two-dimensional decision variables to prevent aggregation bias. A case study for Taipei metropolitan area is illustrated to analyze the variations of residential location choices for households working in the central business district (CBD) after different lines of Taipei Rapid Transit System are completed at various stages. Results indicate that (1) there is increased attraction of households in cities of Taipei County such as Pan-Chiao, Chung-Ho, Yong-Her, and Hsin-Tien due to the completion of rail transit networks and (2) residential locations better served by rail transit lines attract more households; thereby, resulting in higher residential densities.