Using the individual trip diary from the recent 2009 National Household Travel Survey, we study the impact of neighborhood-level smart growth patterns and socioeconomic diversity on commute mode choice, daily work travel mode choice, and non-work travel mode choice for individuals living in different neighborhoods in the Los Angeles MSA. Model results consistently show that transportation infrastructure diversity and quality are the most important aspects of smart growth patterns that have substantial effects on all travel mode choices. Moreover, housing mix in a neighborhood increases the likelihood of choosing walking/cycling for daily work trips and daily non-work trips. Socioeconomic diversity of a neighborhood reduces the likelihood of choosing walking/cycling for daily non-work trips. The remaining two factors--residential density and mixed land use--insignificantly affect travel mode choice. Overall, people living in smart growth neighborhoods in Los Angeles do travel "smarter", in terms of using environmentally more sustainable (bus and train) and healthier (walking and cycling) travel modes.
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