Replica Use Case Library

When the Illinois Department of Transportation engaged Replica to build the state’s first statewide activity-based travel model, it enabled statewide and local agencies to rely on a common set of assumptions in their analysis. The Chicago Regional Transit Authority (RTA) used a Replica analysis of the demographic and socioeconomic breakdown of the ‘L’ and CTA bus ridership to better understand the inequities of commutes across different cohorts of the city’s population. Among the findings: On the Red Line, Black commuters’ travel to work takes, on average, nearly 25% longer than white residents’, culminating in an annual average of 125 hours of extra commuting — time spent away from families and participating in the local community.

The city of Kansas City, MO was considering a redevelopment proposal for a multi-block radius that included tearing down an outdated grocery store and building single family residential units. RideKC utilized Replica data to establish an economic baseline to determine if the project would improve economic conditions for the current residents and evaluate opportunities for incentivizing other developments. Replica provided data on the demographics of the area, including population density, age distribution, income levels, and household size. Additionally, Replica data helped to identify the current travel patterns of residents in the area, including where they go for work, shopping, and leisure activities.

RMI’s new e-bike calculator helps city policymakers quantify the environmental and economic benefits of replacing short-distance vehicle trips with e-bike trips. The calculator incorporates Replica data to calculate the number of weekly trips taken by vehicles originating in cities. The data is categorized by trip distance intervals, from every tenth of a mile up to five miles, then summed for 5-10 miles, 10-25 miles, and 25+ miles.

For more info, read RMI's post here.