A joint discrete-continuous model considering budget constraint for the continuous part: application in joint mode and departure time choice modelling

This article presents an econometric modelling framework for a discrete-continuous choice structure. The proposed model ensures random utility maximisation (RUM) approach for both discrete and continuous decisions and explicit correlation between the two choices. The continuous choice is modelled as RUM under budget limitation. The model is applied for joint mode choice and departure time choice modelling. The empirical application considers continuous time scale for departure time under daily 24h time budget constraint. The empirical model is estimated by using data collected in Toronto, Canada. The estimated parameters reveal many behavioural details of commuters' mode and departure time choices. The RUM-based discrete-continuous model with the incorporation of time budget constraints for the continuous part is a generic econometric model. This article considers modelling mode and departure time' choice bundle for empirical application of the model. However, the model can be applied for any other similar choice bundle situation, for example, in the case of activity-based travel demand and land use modelling.