Work trip lengths within the Greater Vancouver Region

The study examines the "Living Close to Work" policy within the Greater Vancouver Region. Specifically it investigates the effects this policy would have on work trip lengths within the region. A review of relevant literature and empirical research reveals factors which could influence work trip lengths within the Greater Vancouver Region. Among these factors are city size, location of residences and workplaces, and income. Data for the study were taken from the Vancouver Area Travel Study and the 1971 Canada Census. Data on work trip lengths were obtained from the Vancouver Area Travel Study files and data on labour force:job ratios and average household incomes from the 1971 Census. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between work trip lengths and labour force:job ratios and work trip lengths and average household incomes. A descriptive analysis of work trip length characteristics for downtown and non-downtown employment centers was used to study how travel and job location are related. The investigation establishes that: a) people who live in high income subareas of the Lower Mainland travel no less and no more than the population as a whole in going to and from work; b) mean and median travel times to the suburban centers are shorter than the corresponding figures to the downtown workplaces; c) between 1965 and 1972 mean work trip distances to non-downtown locations increased faster than the mean work trip distance to the downtown; d) areas with high labour force:job ratios tend to have long work trip lengths; e) average work trip length in Greater Vancouver and the trip length frequency distribution for Greater Vancouver appear quite typical of those for moderate and large cities. The implications of these conclusions for the "Living Close to Work" policy for the region are worked out. The study suggests that this policy will not result in a substantial reduction in work trip travel distance. However, there are indications that it will result in worthwhile work trip travel time savings as well as other benefits. An area for further research is suggested and observations made on data requirements for such a study.Applied Science, Faculty ofCommunity and Regional Planning (SCARP), School ofGraduat