In recent years, the compact city concept has become a paradigm of sustainable urban development under the premise that mixed-use, high-density cities can significantly reduce automobile dependency and promote the use of alternative modes. This claim, however, hinges on the existence of a true causal mechanism between the built environment and travel behavior. This study tackled the causality problem by using a propensity score approach but differed from previous studies in that this study relaxed the binary treatment assumption (i.e., urban versus suburban) and assumed a continuous treatment of urbanization level, estimated as a latent variable. Methodologically, the propensity score stratification method used was successful in mitigating residential self-selection bias on estimates of the effect of the built environment on nonwork trip frequency and traveled distance. Overestimation ranges for the direct regression estimates against the estimates stratified on the propensity score ranged from 6% to 36%. Findings suggested the existence of a causal mode substitution mechanism from car to nonmotorized modes given positive increases in the latent score of urbanization level.
Connection between Built Environment and Travel Behavior
Propensity score approach under a continuous treatment Regime
Transportation Research Record
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board ; 2453 , 1 ; 137-144
2014-01-01
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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