Commuting in America is the definitive report produced roughly in the middle of each decade to help transportation professionals and policy makers understand the demographic, social and lifestyle forces that shape the demand and choices for transportation in the United States.

All exhibits and text in “italics” are taken directly from the report. My commentary appears in plain font. This 2006 report provides useful guidance for Oahu’s major decision to develop transportation infrastructure costing billions of dollars.

The purpose of my commentary is to provide an insight into the trends in commuters’ needs and wants, and their likely choices for urban transportation in the future. I hope that you will find this 7-page summary useful. The 172 page report is available at TRB.org.

“Commuting in America III provides a snapshot view of commuting patterns and trends derived principally from an analysis of the 2000 decennial U.S. Census. This is the third report in this series authored by Alan E. Pisarski, transportation consultant, over the last 20 years. His first two reports were published in 1987 and 1996.”

“So many of the major forces of change in the past have diminished: the explosive growth of drivers’ licenses and vehicle ownership, the rise of female participation in the workforce, the suburban boom, and the boom in baby boomer workers themselves are all behind us. Watching the final stages of the baby boomers’ work life and the rise of the new populations that will replace them should be equally fascinating.”

The summary is grouped in four sections. 1) Demographics, 2) Travel choices or modes of travel, 3) Congestion, and 4) Infrastructure decision making. In the text, SOV is single occupant vehicle.

See the entire summary at: Commuting in America lll

Panos D. Prevedouros, PhD, is a Professor of Transportation Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa.

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