Vanpooling in the Mid-Columbia River Gorge: A Feasibility Assessment and Investigation of Employer Preferences
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Date
2011-06
Authors
Garcia, Nicolas
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Planning, Public Policy & Management, University of Oregon
Abstract
Vanpooling provides an opportunity to save commuters money and diminish the external costs of an
automobile‐dominated transportation system. Vanpooling’s effectiveness in urban and suburban areas
has been established, but its success in rural areas is less well researched. Furthermore, employer
support is important to the success of vanpooling, but there is little research showing how agencies and
non‐profits can encourage that support.
This study uses a survey of major employers in the Mid‐Columbia River Gorge to examine these issues.
Results indicate that the potential for vanpooling in the Gorge is significant but limited to a small
percentage of the region’s commuters and that vanpooling would be cost‐effective but unlikely to yield
major changes in travel patterns. Furthermore, employer survey responses indicate a primary concern
with minimizing costs and avoiding new responsibilities. Strategies for effectively promoting vanpooling
in the Gorge are identified and discussed.
This report begins with a literature review which discusses the challenges facing the U.S. transportation
system, describes the study area, and reviews the existing research about vanpooling. Following the
literature review is a detailed description of the methods used, including an employer survey and
several forms of quantitative analysis. Next it presents the findings, broken down into the vanpool
feasibility assessment and the employer preferences survey. Finally, the Discussion section examines the
implications of the findings, acknowledges this study’s limitations, identifies avenues for further
research, and outlines recommendations for improving transportation in the Gorge.
Description
Examining committee: Robert Parker, chair, Marc Schlossberg
Keywords
Van pools -- Columbia River Gorge (Or. and Wash.)