Structural equation modeling of the factors influencing pedestrians' overpass utilization preference: A case study in Iligan City, Philippines.

Overpasses are constructed because they allow continuous passage of pedestrians without disturbing the flow of vehicles. However, research from developing countries along with the anecdotal evidence from the study location revealed that generally most pedestrians prefer not using overpasses in crossing roads, rendering them inefficient and causing safety concerns. As such, this paper examines the factors - both observable and latent - influencing pedestrians' overpass utilization preference. The study was situated in Iligan City, Philippines, wherein four overpasses in the city were investigated by conducting on-site observations and questionnaire surveys. The data collected were analyzed using a combination of multiple linear regression (MLR), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). On-site pedestrian traffic count revealed that the overpasses in Iligan City are generally ineffective, with only 38.42% average utilization rate. The MLR revealed three observable contributing factors that may affect pedestrian overpass crossing choice: having a driver's license, the overpass width, and the overpass span. EFA and SEM were able to identify safety, convenience, facility condition, and security as the latent factors having a positive direct influence on the preference of pedestrians overpass utilization. These results are instrumental at determining areas of concern relating to overpass design and improvements to increase the utilization rates of the overpass facilities in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]