The Effects of Changing Commutes on Home Delivery Activity

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, New York, like most US and global cities, has seen rapid evolution of (1) work location and time flexibility and (2) adoption of online shopping alternatives for diverse commodities by varying shopper populations. It is expected that changes in work location – particularly the increased opportunity for some individuals to work from home at least a few days per week – could have profound impacts on the choice of location for shopping activities and on the likelihood of receiving home deliveries. Relying on the New York City Department of Transportation’s forthcoming 2022 Citywide Mobility Survey (CMS) and publicly-available land-use and employment data, this project will explicitly investigate the relationship between work-related travel activity (or lack thereof) and propensity for home delivery. This study will distinguish individuals based on demographic characteristics, home and work built environments (e.g. land uses and building types) and commute characteristics (e.g. frequencies, modes, times of day), and will evaluate shopping frequencies for several specific categories of goods - including groceries, prepared food, and parcels. Results are expected to provide insights on the expected impacts of changing work on local delivery activity, to inform the design of future urban freight infrastructure and city logistics strategies in work- and residence-oriented communities, and to provide insights for potential implications for local travel and retail activity.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Active
  • Funding: $238319
  • Contract Numbers:

    69A3552348320

    69A3552344815

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

    University Transportation Centers Program
    Department of Transportation
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Managing Organizations:

    Center for Understanding Future of Travel Behavior and Demand

    University of Texas
    Austin, TX  United States 
  • Project Managers:

    Bhat, Chandra

  • Performing Organizations:

    City College of New York

    Civil Engineering, Steinman T-127
    140th Street and Convent Avenue
    New York, NY  United States  10031
  • Principal Investigators:

    Conway, Alison

  • Start Date: 20230901
  • Expected Completion Date: 20250531
  • Actual Completion Date: 0
  • USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01933416
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: Center for Understanding Future of Travel Behavior and Demand
  • Contract Numbers: 69A3552348320, 69A3552344815
  • Files: UTC, RIP
  • Created Date: Oct 13 2024 4:13PM