Abstract:
Historically, data collection in support of regional travel demand models for small and medium-sized communities has been limited, largely due to a lack of resources. As a result, travel demand models in these regions are often based on generalized trip rates and other characteristics (such as those detailed in NCHRP Report 365). Another common trend is to “borrow” a data set from a “comparable” region. Finally, a growing research focus is on the ability to conduct a small sample survey to supplement or refresh older travel survey data. The purpose of this paper is to provide a resource for transportation planners in small and medium-sized communities through presenting practices on the use of secondary data to support travel demand modeling. This is accomplished through detailing common practice in the use of the two most common transferable practices as well as presenting an alternate approach that blends a smaller focused “fresh” survey sample with secondary data.
