US Department of Transportation,
New England University Transportation Center Sponsored Research
Faculty PI: Eran Ben-Joseph and Chris Zegras
Current Researchers : Sara Brown (MCP)
Past Researchers: Frank Hebbert (MCP), Cha-Ly Koh (MCP), Sloan Dawson (MCP), Holly Chase (MCP)
,
Jae Seung Lee (PhD), Vig Krishnamurthy (MCP)
Abstract
The world is experiencing a demographic transformation due to
decreasing birthrates and rising life expectancy. In the United
States, as 78.2 million baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964)
enter retirement age, urban and suburban forms exert greater influence
on their well-being and active aging. The research attempts to reveal
how residential environments affect baby boomers’ local travel
behavior and social interactions. The broader aim of this study is to
gain insights into aging-friendly neighborhood environments that can
promote older adults’ sustainable mobility, as well as active and safe
aging.
Phase One - Neighborhoods - Types Choices and Attitudes
The first phase of this project
established the foundation for better understanding older adults’
locational characteristics in the Boston Metro Area and is allowing
us to gain preliminary insights into the relationship between the
built environment and the travel behavior of older adults through
the study of four different urban edge communities (two age-restricted
communities, two matching non-age-restricted communities), utilizing
focus groups.
Phase Two- Neighborhoods Morphologies and Travel Behavior
The second phase of this project enable us
to build upon the information gained and to develop stronger empirical
evidence on how different types of community settings, particularly
age-restricted, active adult communities (ARAAC), apparently influence
travel and activity patterns. In the second phase, we employ
a travel survey instrument among older adults residing in two ARAACs
and two non-ARAACs, in a matched pair, quasi-experimental research
design. Following the state-of-the-art in this type of research,
we utilize survey questions and statistical techniques that attempt to control for individual’s travel preferences. The
research design enable stronger inference regarding the influence
of the community setting on travel behavior.
Phase Three - Safety Mobility and Neighborhood Design
Phase Four - Using Android-Based Smart phones to Understand Older Adults’ Travel Behavior
