Changes in transit use and service and associated changes in driving near a new light rail transit line.

PDFTech ReportCA-MTI-1108MTI Report 12-44DTRT12-G-UTC21Light rail transitBus transitTravel behaviorTravel patternsMode choiceRidershipService discontinuanceVehicle miles of travelBefore and after studiesUrban transportation policyLos Angeles (California)Mineta Transportation InstituteNixon, HilaryBoarnet, MarlonHouston, DougSpears, StevenLee, JeongwooMineta Transportation InstituteUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and TechnologyCalifornia. Dept. of Transportation. Office of ResearchUS Transportation CollectionLos Angeles is pursuing possibly the most ambitious rail transit investment program in the nation with plans to open six newrail transit lines between now and 2019. The report provides policy makes and planners a better understanding of the potentialimpacts of Los Angeles Metro\ue2\u20ac\u2122s rail transit investment program by assessing the changes in transit use of nearby residents andnearby bus service associated with the Expo Line, the first of the six new lines. Our findings indicate that changes in bus servicethat are coincident with the introduction of new light rail transit can negatively affect the overall transit ridership in the corridor. Inaddition, we find that households living near new Expo Line light rail stations reduced their vehicle miles traveled (VMT), but thosehouseholds living near bus stops that were eliminated as part of the service change increased their VMT