American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What does the cross tabulation model estimate?

1. Trip generation rates based on land use type

2. Trip estimates based on attractive zones

3. Traffic patterns in distribution zones

4. Types of transportation used

The correct answer is: Trip generation rates based on land use type

The cross tabulation model is primarily utilized in transportation planning to estimate trip generation rates based on land use type. This model analyzes and organizes data to identify relationships between different variables, such as the types of land uses present in an area and the amount of travel generated by those uses. It effectively helps planners determine how different types of developments, like residential, commercial, or industrial, generate trips by cross-tabulating land use data with trip generation rates. This method is important as it provides a more nuanced understanding of travel behavior, allowing planners to predict the impact of proposed developments on traffic generation more accurately. By assessing various land use characteristics and their respective trip generation rates, planners can make informed decisions on infrastructure needs, zoning changes, and transportation improvements. In contrast, trip estimates based on attractive zones focus more on the destinations that attract trips rather than on the characteristics of the land uses generating them. Traffic patterns in distribution zones relate to how traffic flows through specific areas, emphasizing movement rather than generation, while types of transportation used analyze modal choices for travel rather than their origins or generation rates. Thus, these alternatives do not capture the primary focus of the cross tabulation model as effectively as the correct answer does.