Title: SOCIOECONOMIC AND TRAVEL FORECASTS FOR ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION
Abstract: The development and use of socioeconomic and travel forecasts for evaluation of major transit investments in the Puget Sound region of Washington State are described. Although procedures used to produce socioeconomic and travel forecasts may be considered standard relative to techniques used elsewhere, the analysis and interpretation of the results have had a substantial impact on the decisions of policy makers in the region. How the results are being used for decision making is the thrust of this paper. Highlighted is how forecasts have been used at each phase of the transportation planning process: for systems planning, for corridor analysis, and for project planning. First, forecasts played a key role in defining the nature of the future regional transportation system as contained in the Regional Transportation Plan. Predictions of levels of highway congestion and potential transit ridership were subsequently used to rank corridors as to priority for further analysis. In evaluating alternative transit projects within corridors, policy makers have given priority to those projected to generate additional transit patronage. Because billion-dollar decisions are being made today for tomorrow's transit capital and operating programs, the need for constant update of the regional data base and forecasting capabilities has been reinforced. Additional survey work and model refinements are planned to help ensure that adequate technical information is available as projects go into preliminary engineering.
Publication Year: 1984
Publication Date: 1984-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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