Travel Behavior Research

Analysis, insights, and decisions are only as good as the underlying data. Several Blue Door partners are survey scientists with international reputations in the field of travel behavior surveys and research. This expertise includes surveys on origin-destination (OD) patterns, mobility product and service preferences, household travel diaries, visitor experience, customer satisfaction, and more.

• Next Generational National Household Travel Survey (Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)). Advised on methodology and data uses for the 2021-22 NHTS. Client: Ipsos for Federal Highway Administration. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
•  TCRP B-47: Impacts of Transformational Technologies on Underserved Populations (TTI). Designed and implemented a large-scale survey of persons with hearing, sight, and mobility impairments, low-income, and non-English speaking to identify barriers and opportunities in technology-enabled mobility. Client: Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• SANDAG Commercial Vehicle Survey (ETC). Advised on survey design for commercial vehicles, focusing on light commercial vehicles and transportation network companies delivering goods and services. Client: San Diego Association of Governments. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.

Modeling key transportation decisions such as mode choice, destination choice, tour and trip generation, and vehicle ownership is an essential element of the travel demand modeling framework. The Blue Door team includes recognized leaders in advanced methods for travel demand forecasting. These experts are available to provide peer reviews of models.

• FHWA National Long Distance Travel Demand Forecasting Model (RSG). Conducted research and developed disaggregate models to schedule long-distance annual passenger travel based on time and cost budgets, travel and demographic characteristics, and produce transportation impacts by mode and season across the U.S. Client: Federal Highway Administration. For more information, contact Maren Outwater
• FHWA Behaviorally-based National Freight Demand Model (RSG). Conducted research and developed disaggregate models that predict goods movement by mode across the U.S. based on economics, business relationships, time, and cost by mode and destination. Client: Federal Highway Administration. For more information, contact Maren Outwater
• NCHRP HR 20-4(32) TFGuide Method Selection for Travel Forecasting Implementation (RSG). Developed a decision-support system to select travel forecasting methods to support plans and programs at Metropolitan Planning Organizations and State Departments of Transportation. Client: Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Maren Outwater. 
• NCHRP 08-36/Task 141: Evaluation of Walk and Bicycle Demand Modeling Practice:  An NCHRP project to summarize and evaluate how walk trips and bicycle trips are treated in travel demand models for MPOs and DOTs in the US. Includes a literature review, results of a survey of MPOs and DOTS, and examples of state-of-the-art methods  (RSG, RAND)  Contact: Mark Bradley
• US DOT Travel Model Improvement Program: Model Impacts of Connected and Autonomous/Automated Vehicles (CAVs) and Ride-Hailing with an Activity-Based Model (ABM) and Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA)  An innovative project to integrate an activity-based model (ABM) with dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) to study various scenarios for private and fleet-based connected and autonomous vehicles for the Jacksonville region. Following the “decision making under deep uncertainty” (DMDU) focus of the research, the scenario results were generalized to a meta-model to assess the relative importance of various demand and supply assumptions  (RSG, Caliper) Contact: Mark Bradley

Societal changes drive transportation planning and policy.  These shifts include an aging population; the growth of high tech and service sector jobs; evolving views on race, ethnicity, and immigration; and changes in family structure. Blue Door experts provide analysis of trends shaping transportation grounded in rigorous empirical research.

• NCHRP 20-83(6) Impact of Socio-Demographics on Travel Demand (RAND Corporation). Determined how socio-demographic factors are likely to affect travel demand over the next 30-50 years. Client: Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• The Emerging Travel Patterns of Older Adults (TTI). Characterized how older adults travel today, what factors will influence future changes, and how digital technologies may affect travel. Client: Institute for Social Research, BMW Group. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.

A TDM measure is any action or set of actions aimed at influencing travel behavior in such a way that sustainable mobility options are presented and/or auto trips are reduced. Blue Door partners have been at the forefront of gathering data to understand why people do what they do and to use this knowledge to develop strategies for altering (nudging) travel habits and behaviors to those that benefit society.

• Mobility with Reliability and Efficiency (Metropia). Through a USDOT Mobility on Demand (MOD) Sandbox award to deploy a MOD platform in the greater Rita Ranch area of Tucson, provided marketing and research strategy to assess baseline travel behaviors and interest levels in a subscription-based ridesharing service, and social carpooling services. Client: Regional Transportation Authority. For more information, contact Mia Zmud.
• Traveler Response Architecture using Novel Signaling for Network Efficiency in Transportation (Metropia). Developed research protocols and micro surveys to assess attitudes, travel behaviors and app user profiles to develop incentives architecture to influence more energy-efficient travel choices. Client: U.S. Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency. For more information, contact Mia Zmud.
• An Active Traffic Management Experimental Project (Metropia). Served as research lead to manage travel demand during construction of the Mopac Express Lanes to influence wiser commute decisions including incentivizing travelers to shift departure times to non-peak and shift from driving alone to carpooling or transit. Client: Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. For more information, contact Mia Zmud.

Road pricing describes techniques that use charges to address sustainable funding and provide pricing incentives to manage congestion and increase vehicle throughput. Managed lanes strategies optimize roadway use, incentivize alternate methods, and help minimize the need for new construction. Beginning in 2000, we have been involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating managed lane operations, road use charging strategies, and impacts of pricing on demand. 

• Optimizing Performance Management of Priced Facilities (TTI). Developed a framework for TxDOT that guides operating decisions over the life of a managed lane facility. Client: Texas Department of Transportation. For more information, contact Ginger Goodin.
• Exploratory Study: Vehicle Mileage Fees in Texas (TTI). Represents one of the earliest research studies exploring the technological and institutional issues in developing, implementing, and administering a road use charging system. Client: Texas Department of Transportation. For more information, contact Ginger Goodin.
• Next Generation Turnpike Statewide Model (AECOM). Developed disaggregate travel models to better understand long-distance and short-distance travel by residents and visitors and evaluate the impacts of pricing and congestion on statewide travel demand. Client: Florida Turnpike Enterprise. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.

We use qualitative and quantitative research methods and refined existing tools to assess policy alternatives and future needs in the context of current demographic, geographic, and technology trends and emerging issues. Blue Door partners are steeped in the economic, market, social, and practical aspects that frame transportation policy making and successful at finding the most strategic solutions, including institutional, budgetary and legal.

• NCHRP 20-102(1): Strategies to Advance Automated and Connected Vehicles: A Primer for State and Local Decision Makers (TTI). Identified and assessed 18 strategies that might mitigate safety risks, encourage shared use, address liability, enhance congestion and air quality benefits of AVs and CVs. Client: Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Ginger Goodin.
• Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Data Issues and Opportunities (TTI). Developed a white paper addressing CV and AV data privacy, security, and cybersecurity challenges, as well as policy recommendations for data use, ownership, sharing, and exchange issues. Client: Texas CAV Task Force 2020. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Consumer Acceptance and Travel Behavior Impacts of Automated Vehicles (TTI). In 2015, gathered empirical evidence on consumer acceptance and adoption: the factors associated with intention to use, how that intention might influence mode choice and vehicle ownership decisions, and what all of this could mean for travel demand and congestion in the Austin region. Client: Policy Research Institute, TTI. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.

Transportation equity is a timely issue. Equity debates mainly consider the fairness of transportation funding, mobility options, and access to opportunities. Blue Door partners have been conducting research to address equity issues for decades.

• Portland Land Use Allocation Model Design Plan (RSG). Recommended forecasting tools to support urban growth boundary decisions, general growth planning and visioning, and transportation planning with better measures of social welfare and equity, housing affordability and economic welfare. Client: Oregon Metro. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.
• Synthesis of the Socio-Economic Impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility (TTI). For the 6th EU-US Research Symposium, co-authored a white paper on data privacy, access, safety and security, economic and workforce, and equity. Client: Federal Highway Administration and Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Multi-Criteria Evaluation Toolkit (RSG). Advised on benefit measures and equity analysis to support transportation planning alternatives analysis with a benefit- cost tool that produces impacts for disadvantaged communities. Client: Oregon Metro. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.
• Federal Highway Administration: Benefit-Cost Analysis using Activity-Based Models:  A project for FHWA to develop new benefit-cost methods to be used with the outputs of advanced travel demand models such as activity-based models.  The project tested various methods on network and land use scenarios in the Tampa region, and incorporated the recommended methods in the software tool BCA4ABM. (RSG, EcoNorthwest)  Contact: Mark Bradley

Cities and regions can derive educational value from deploying technology-

enabled mobility pilots, including information on the specific nature of the

technology, its capabilities, operating challenges, and public acceptance.

Pilots can be used to educate the public. Blue Door partners have been

actively engaged in designing evaluation methods and metrics as well as

evaluating pilot results.

• Consumer Acceptance, Trust, and Future Use of Self-Driving Vehicles (TTI). Designed and implemented research to assess consumer acceptance, trust, and likely use of self-driving vehicles in Frisco, Texas -- the first city to pilot-test a self-driving shuttle service on public roads in Texas. Client: Frisco Transportation Management Association. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot Deployment Program (TTI). Designed and implemented evaluation plan, focusing on stakeholder acceptance and satisfaction, for CV pilots in Tampa, New York City, and Wyoming. Client: ITS/JPO Federal Highway Administration. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Urban Partnership Agreement/Congestion Reduction Demonstration Program (TTI). Designed and implemented a tolling evaluation plan and conducted post-project evaluation for corridors in Atlanta and Seattle, demonstrating the use of demand-based pricing with enabling ITS technologies. Client: FHWA Office of Operations. For more information, contact Ginger Goodin.

The partners were at the forefront in innovating research methods and data collection to study the impacts and opportunities of automated vehicle technology on the

economy, society, and the environment.

• NCHRP 20-102(9): Updating Regional Transportation Planning and Modeling Tools to Address Impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicles (TTI, RSG). Provide support to state DOTs and regional MPOs in the form of guidelines to update their modeling and forecasting tools, to more appropriately account for the expected impacts of AV and CV on transportation supply, road capacity, and travel demand components. Client: Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.
• Understanding the Effective Use of Lower Levels of Automated Vehicle Technologies (TTI). Characterized how drivers are engaging with the advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that are currently being marketed by auto manufacturers to inform what may happen in the future. Client: Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Center for Transportation Safety. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Examining Future Automated Vehicle Usage: A Focus on the Role of Ride Hailing (TTI). Designed and implemented a survey that examined the likelihood that early adopters of mobility technology, like ride-hailing, would also be early adopters of self-driving vehicles. Client: Lyft. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.

Technology has changed the interface between people and mobility so that it now can be consumed on-demand as a service, particularly in urban environments. Blue Door partners’ research activities have produced insights on the implications of mobility on demand for both public- and private-sector clients.

• Transportation Network Company (TC) Surveys for MPOs in CA (RSG). Advised on TNC surveys to evaluate transportation and social equity impacts of ride-hailing services, such as Lyft and Uber, in the San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco Bay Area regions. Client: San Diego Association of Governments. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.
• Intersection between Travel/Tourism and Urban Mobility (TTI). Identified how business and leisure travelers are using new mobility options as well as using future technologies like augmented reality to meet travel needs. Client: Avis/Budget Group. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Changing Consumer Preferences and Mobility Behaviors in the Context of a Modal Revolution (TTI). Explored consumer decision-making and travel expectations to better understand and predict the future level and distribution of travel demand. Client: Federal Highway Administration. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.

Emerging technology, changing public and stakeholder expectations, and competing priorities for resources are compelling agencies to reconsider their institutional cultures. A culture of innovation is necessary to effectively manage the rate of change. Blue Door partners have decades of successful execution of applied research to provide strategies to initiate and maintain cultures of innovation and evidence-supported capability in delivering clear, logical, and useful guidance documents.

• Innovative Corridor Strategy (TTI). Developed a systematic, corridor-based process for eliciting, testing, and implementing technological innovations based on user pain points and mobility needs. Client: Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. For more information, contact Ginger Goodin.
• R&D Technology Framework (Blue Door). Developing the framework and supporting processes for a technology and innovation program. Client: Florida Turnpike Enterprise. For more information, contact Mia Zmud.

Blue Door partners leverage the power of scientific research, knowledge of the public policy landscape, and deep connections within the transportation domain to guide emerging technology business strategies in the mobility marketplace. We support private companies in guiding market strategy, industry positioning, and partnership development to drive innovative solutions, especially in the public sector transportation system.

• Technology Readiness (Foresight Strategy and Research). Market assessments and commercialization assistance for technology innovations that receive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding. For more information, contact Mia Zmud or Ginger Goodin.
• Market Research and Advisory Services (Metropia). Providing advisory services and market research to inform US market entry strategy, partnership, and funding opportunities. For more information, contact Mia Zmud or Ginger Goodin.

Blue Door partners bring an intelligent, informed, alternative perspective to challenges on the horizon, leading to better long-term visions and strategies. We help craft creative solutions and new approaches to opportunities, with a data-driven understanding of the transportation industry and the changes ahead. 

• Expert Review Panel for the Eastside Corridor I-405/SR 167 (TTI). Chaired a panel of national experts to evaluate the operational, policy, financial, and technical feasibility of the state DOT's express toll lane plans for the Eastside Corridor in Seattle. Client: Washington State Department of Transportation. For more information, contact Ginger Goodin.

Blue Door partners have worked with agencies to define current and future challenges, policy goals to meet those challenges, and strategies to address policy goals.  Modes of transportation, infrastructure, technology, demand and users are all considerations for the overall process.

• Mobility Investment Priorities - Rider 42 (TTI). Formal strategic effort with local elected leaders and agency executives to prioritize $31 million in state bond funding for the most congested corridors in the Austin region. Client: Texas Legislature and Texas Department of Transportation. For more information, contact Ginger Goodin
• Strategic Thinking on the Impacts of Disruptive Technologies on Safety (TTI). For AV, CV, Big Data, and shared mobility, identified what are gaps in understanding of impacts and what are topics for future research. Client: SAFE-D University Transportation Center. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Quality of Life Indicators and Policy Strategies to Advance Sustainability in the Pearl River Delta (RAND). Developed a set of land use and transportation goals and strategies and an accompanying system of indicators to characterize and monitor quality of life in Guangdong Province in the People's Republic of China. Goals, strategies, and indicators were also developed in less detail for the environment, housing, and economic, development policy areas. Client: Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (HURD) of Guangdong Province. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud. 

Blue Door partners have been at the forefront of applying strategic models for transportation planning to address a gap in the technical understanding of an uncertain future. These models are intended for use as visioning tools, specifically to help guide transportation policies and investments.

• Rapid Policy Assessment Tool (RPAT) (RSG). Developed strategic models to produce the impacts of regional smart growth strategies on travel demand, the environment, energy, the economy, land markets, communities, and equity. Client: Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.
• VisionEval Technical Support (RSG). Advised on developing a framework to include several strategic modeling systems, with contributions on RPAT, GreenSTEP, and the Energy and Emissions Reductions Policy Analysis Tool (EERPAT). Client: American Association of State Highway Officials. For more information, contact Maren Outwater.
• NCHRP 20-83(6) Impact of Socio-Demographics on Travel Demand and Impacts 2050 (RAND). Focused on understanding the fundamental relationships between social and demographic factors and travel demand, and how these relationships might change over time. A strategic modeling framework, Impacts 2050, was developed for incorporating the results into the planning and decision-making process. Client: Transportation Research Board. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.

Planners often use models to assist in the evaluation and selection of decision options. The task is difficult because how each option performs depends on very hard-to-predict and often-disputed future conditions. Blue Door partners are well-versed in using scenario planning techniques to construct and assess a range of plausible futures relevant to a decision at hand.

• Paths of Automated and Connected Vehicle Deployment: Strategic Roadmap for State and Local Transportation Agencies (TTI). Developed two scenarios which were presented to transportation agency leaders to elicit reactions and implications. Client: Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Strategic Research Program. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• Travel in Britain in 2035: Future Scenarios and Their Implications for Technology Innovation (TTI). Developed future scenarios leading to congestion reduction that were used to identify innovation investments and policies. Client: Innovate UK. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.
• The Future of Mobility: Scenarios for the United States in 2030 (RAND). Developed two scenarios that were used to surface future transportation planning and policy needs. Client: Institute for Social Research, BMW Group. For more information, contact Johanna Zmud.