A confirmatory factor analysis of road users’ cognitive attitudes towards contributing factors of traffic congestion

Road users’ perceptions about traffic congestion and its contributing factors, influence their traffic congestion satisfaction and travel behaviours. However, how road users interpret traffic congestion factors has not received much attention in studies especially in low and middle-income countries. This study used a stated preference data, obtained from road users during a questionnaire survey, to establish factors, which significantly contribute to traffic congestion. It further employed confirmatory factor analysis to explore how road users’ cognitive assessment of contributing factors of congestion could reveal interrelationships among the factors and their underlying constructs. The study revealed that road users perceive poor functioning traffic signal, presence of potholes on roadway, high traffic volume, presence of on-street market, indiscriminate on-street parking and rainfall as some critical contributing factors of congestion on the roadways in Kumasi. Also, road users perceive the contributing factors of congestion in four main interconnected dimensions namely traffic demand, control devices, side frictions and incidents. The findings of this study can inform the decisions of transport planners and engineers on how to prioritise resources for congestion mitigation and tailor initiatives to address the key factors that need much attention and likely to result in higher payoff and consequently, sustainable transport.