Examining Multimodal Transportation in El Paso Region: Results of the Regional Transportation Survey

Background Policy makers are placing an increased emphasis on reducing automobile dependency and developing transportation systems that are multimodal. To help develop strategies to increase the use of alternative modes of transportation, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) worked with the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) on a research project to develop methodologies, data, analysis, and tools that can be integrated into a regional multimodal transportation plan. This paper summarizes a component of this study that included a regional population survey. The El Paso transportation survey contributes to the field by integrating various elements from transportation research, behavioral and social sciences and public health. Methods The survey was implemented between September and October 2015, and the study area included all of El Paso County, Texas, and parts of Dona Ana and Otero Counties, New Mexico. An address-based sample was used to get a representative sample of individuals age 18+ in the metropolitan area. Several analyses (e.g. bivariate descriptive analysis and spatial analysis) were conducted to examine the behaviors or motivators for using or not using the various modes of transportation, with a particular focus on alternative modes. Results The results indicated the important role of understanding regional and population characteristics, as well as behavioral barriers and motivators, as an important first step in designing effective alternative travel programs and interventions. Several factors, including neighborhood environment variables, personal and social characteristics, and attitudes and habits work together to influence residents’ participation in alternative transportation. While the personal automobile is the current dominant travel mode in El Paso, residents see great value in extending public transportation infrastructure in the future. Improving connectivity, safety and the neighborhood environment were found to be particularly essential to encourage walking and bicycling in the region. Conclusions This study was one of the first known regional transportation surveys in the United States to incorporate several elements of health and well-being. Because costs and political constraints can derail physical interventions, policy interventions aimed at addressing personal and social barriers to alternative transportation modes can be an attractive alternative. These include educational programs, marketing and promotion, regulatory measures, and financial incentives. There are various policy measures used to encourage alternative modes of transportation and not only one correct solution. The most effective strategies tend to be customized to the specific target population, work at both the individual and community levels, and incorporate a combination of intervention methods.