UC Irvine Institute of Transportation Studies

This paper presents results from a travel survey of downtown area employees conducted during the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. The Olympics provided a unique opportunity to observe travel demand responses to major anticipated changes in the level of service of the transportation system. 

The survey examined all aspects of work trip travel including travel times, mode choice, work schedules, absences from work, and route choice. Nearly 2,000 surveys from four different downtown area employers were analyzed. Results showed that many different changes in work trip travel behavior occurred. These changes contributed to the reduced congestion experienced during the Olympics. 

The most frequent changes include shifts in the work schedule and higher than usual absences from work. Modal shifts and change in route choice were much less common. Results also show that employers had a significant influence on the strategies chosen by employees. The paper concludes with a discussion of the significance of the research findings.