The Full Cost of Commuting: Evaluating Transportation Affordability and Mode Shift Potential in London, Ontario

The City of London plans and manages a multi-modal mobility system to move people and goods in an affordable manner. Affordability is multi-dimensional however, from the private costs of residents, such as fuel and bus fare, to public costs such as road construction and maintenance. In order to meet its commitment to London residents, the City requires a clear understanding of the full cost of modal choices employed in transportation, including public costs, private costs, and external costs. This proposal is to conduct a full cost of mobility analysis of the costs London and Londoners pay for various modes of travel.
This analysis will empower City staff to make decisions and recommendations on providing an affordable multi-modal mobility system to London residents using empirical analytic results directly pertinent to the London context. Economically, it will benefit the City, and thus its residents, by holistically assessing the costs that various transportation modes incur and highlighting potential affordability gains available through transportation mode optimization. Socially, it will help not only City staff, but also residents through the City’s outreach and public participation, to understand the costs incurred by various modes of transportation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jinhyung Lee

Student:

Partner:

City of London

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: