Collectivism to Job/Housing Balance and Sustainable Transportation?: An Analysis of Different Employee Groups’ Job/Housing Balance and Mode Choice

摘要

This study analyzes the job/housing balance and mode choice of employees of the samelarge employer with 27,113 employees in Los Angeles, California. The data about thisemployee group ("the first group") were from a) responses (n=2,746 or 1,415) to anemployee travel behavior survey; b) an employer-administrated database which providedgeocodable home addresses of the employees(n=26,583). Two databases of the U.S.Census were used to generate residential patterns and mode choice of the "referencegroups" ----comparable employees working for different employers in Los Angeles.Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical analyses were used to identify andtest differences in residential pattern and mode choice of different employee groups. Itwas found that a) the first group tended to have a better job/housing balance than thereference groups----they lived relatively close to the workplace; b) the first groupsignificantly drove alone less and used alternative modes such as public transit, biking,telecommuting, or walking more; c) comprehensive Travel Demand Management(TDM)measures and housing programs promote a better job/housing balance and reducesemployees' dependence on driving-alone, particularly for employees from a largeemployer like a university. The above findings, if confirmed with consequent studies,argue for an integrated and collective TDM and housing assistance program foremployees of different employers, especially small employers proximate to each otherthat are unable to offer decent TDM or housing program individually to enhancejob/housing balance and to reduce solo-driving among commuting employees.