Title

Transportation Affordability: evaluation and improvement strategies

Authors

Todd Litman

Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

2008

Subject Area

Transport accessibility - Access to Information, Transport accessibility - Lack of access, Transport services - Affordability, Transport services - Cost

Abstract

This paper investigates the concept of transportation affordability, its importance to society, how to evaluate it for transport planning, and practical ways to improve it. A variety of factors affect transportation affordability, including individuals' mobility needs and abilities; the quantity, quality and price of mobility options; land use factors that affect accessibility; and housing affordability. Conventional planning tends to consider a relatively limited range of transport affordability impacts and objectives. More comprehensive analysis can help decision makers better understand affordability impacts and identify more effective strategies for improving transport affordability. Transportation affordability strategies that underprice motor vehicle use tend to impose indirect costs, while those that improve other travel options tend to support other planning objectives, such as improved safety, community cohesion, and environmental protection, and so tend to provide the greatest overall benefit.