Worker experiences of accessibility in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Details

• Creators:
  Lowe, Kate ; Marmol, Mariana
• Corporate Creators:
  Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Accessibility Commuting Job Opportunities Low Income Groups Mobility Mode Choice Suburbs Surveys Travel Demand Urban Areas Work Trips

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CETR 12-05
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  New Orleans (Louisiana)
• Corporate Publisher:
  Gulf Coast Research Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency
• Abstract:
  Existing research has identified transportation challenges that low-income workers face, including a
  
  spatial mismatch between suburban entry level-jobs and urban low-income workers. These studies rely on travel
  
  models and secondary data and thus may not capture the temporal or other constraints that low-income workers
  
  experience. To better understand mobility patterns and accessibility as experienced, this analysis considers
  
  commute choices and perceptions of accessibility. Findings are based on open-ended surveys with 50 low-income
  
  workers in New Orleans and its inner suburbs. According to a sizable share of respondents (40%), transportation
  
  problems do not preclude applying to jobs. Black and centrally located respondents most commonly did not
  
  perceive transportation as a limitation to job opportunities. On the other hand, many respondents did describe an
  
  inability to get to suburban job opportunities. Even when missed job opportunities were not reported, almost all
  
  respondents cited transportation problems for some locations or activities, especially shopping. Losing a functional
  
  automobile was a common reason to change commute mode after Hurricane Katrina, indicating that low-income
  
  workers may shift in and out of car ownership, as well change home and job locations. A few respondents— mostly
  
  active mode users—were highly satisfied with their journey to work. Interviewees most commonly desired
  
  increased frequency and reliability as critical transit improvements. The mixed findings on perceived job
  
  accessibility demonstrate the need to better integrate transportation and workforce research and policy. In
  
  addition, more transportation research work on perceptions and actual challenges is needed, including the role of
  
  time in workplace demands and physical accessibility. Finally, given dynamic auto ownership status, jobs, and
  
  residential patterns, longitudinal study is needed.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2d5d8bd5be846611b933e35063802eb9ea55ff6a40fd0d76c48cd37d873b0c90
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/26053/dot_26053_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.75 MB ]