Transportation Research Related to COVID-19. Analyzing the Shifts from Brick and Mortar Businesses to Home Delivery

Brick and mortar retail businesses have been declining while on-line shopping and home delivery are increasing. This has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increase in demand for home delivery services and the need for new “essential workers” to meet the delivery demands. Workers supporting this service are typically low-income, young, have less job security, and are typically less able to own and maintain a private vehicle, necessary in the delivery business and increasing “gig” economy. The objectives of this research are (1) identify how and to what extent shifts in the economy, including the rise of home delivery services during the pandemic, disproportionately impacts low-income workers, and (2) identify how changes in the economy may affect transportation needs and economic opportunities for low-income communities. Identify how and to what extent shifts in the economy, including the rise of home delivery services during the pandemic, disproportionately impacts low-income workers and affects their travel options and costs, as a private vehicle is increasingly required for these jobs. Auto-ownership is less frequent in low income households, with greater reliance on public transportation. Recently brick and mortar retail businesses have been declining while on-line shopping and home delivery are becoming more popular. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this trend, with a dramatic increase in demand for home delivery services and resulting new “essential workers”. Although workers supporting this service are typically low-income, young, and have less job security, these populations also are less able to own and maintain a private vehicle, which is becoming more necessary in the delivery business and increasing “gig” economy. What data is available on home delivery workers? What additional data or data sources can provide supporting information? What is the potential for this demand to remain long term? What are the options to support these essential workers? Is there a role for public transit in addressing this issue? What partnerships may be necessary to fully understand the problem and jointly identify solutions?

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5094
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $250000
• Contract Numbers:

  23-13(06)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Wadsworth, Trey

• Start Date: 20210517
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communicable diseases; COVID-19; Delivery service; Economic factors; Economic impacts; Electronic commerce; Equity (Justice); Labor force; Low income groups
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Freight Transportation; Highways; Security and Emergencies; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01767997
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 23-13(06)
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 22 2021 3:13PM