Modeling Travel Mode Choice Behavior on University Campus Using Nested Logit Analysis

The determinants of travel mode choice among university students and staff were examined to address a gap in campus mobility research, particularly within tropical environments.Data were obtained from 923 respondents at Mahidol University, Thailand, and analyzed through the application of the Nested Logit Model (NLM), which accounts for hierarchical decision structures across six travel modes: trams, bicycles, motorcycle taxis, private motorcycles, private cars, and walking.Exploratory factor analysis was employed to identify latent constructs influencing satisfaction, including comfort, built environment, and flexibility.The analysis indicated that active and shared modes, particularly trams and walking, were generally preferred.Travel time, cost, and scheduling flexibility were found to be key determinants of mode selection, with flexibility exerting a positive influence and travel time and cost acting as constraints.Weather-related factors were not statistically significant, suggesting that infrastructural conditions may mitigate climatic impacts on active travel.Elasticity analysis further demonstrated that changes in service attributes can prompt modal shifts between motorized and active travel.It is concluded that integrating attitudinal and contextual variables into discrete choice modeling offers a deeper understanding of mode choice behavior in campus environments.Policy implications include the enhancement of shaded pathways, the improvement of service reliability, and the adoption of flexible scheduling strategies to promote sustainable and health-supportive mobility.These findings provide a framework for the development of targeted campus transport policies in climate-sensitive settings.