Traveler Behavior and Social Interactions

Traveler behavior during normal/inclement commutes and extreme conditions is complex in nature. Several exogenous and endogenous factors may impact such behavior, and these factors need to be captured in the corresponding modeling approaches. During commute conditions, motivations and habits should be considered, especially when trying to overcome inertia attributed to some strategic and tactical decision-making patterns. During extreme evacuation conditions, social relations/ties should be considered, since they have direct impact on the decision to leave and the corresponding departure time choice and destination choice. Looking at travelers’ behaviors at the network level and the corresponding mobility and safety implications, multiple sponsors have worked with the GWTP Research Team to investigate the efficiency of different local and non-local roadway networks.