An effective way to optimize traffic structures is by changing travel costs, thereby moving travelers from private transportation to public transportation. However, according to the existing studies, the traveler will not transfer from one mode to another unless the change in travel utility is greater than the indifference threshold. Therefore, the “indifference threshold” is one of the most important factors influencing a traveler’s choice of behavior. This study defines the “indifference threshold” as the traveler’s sensitivity to changes in travel utilities. In the framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), a structural equation model (SEM) considering the indifference threshold is established to analyze a traveler’s mode choice behavior. The analysis results showed that a travelers’ sensitivity to changes in travel utilities has the greatest impact on mode-choice behavior intentions and mode choice behavior. Perceptual behavior control has the strongest influence on travel choice behavior. In addition, in order to further explore the heterogeneity of a traveler’s behavior, the travelers were subdivided into four types, by establishing a latent class model (LCM) considering the indifference threshold. Finally, different traffic management suggestions are proposed for different types of travelers.

In this study, a Boundedly Rational Nested Logit (BRNL) model is proposed by introducing the concept of indifference threshold into Nested Logit (NL) model. In BRNL model, the traveler is assumed to choose randomly or in accordance with his preference if the expected cost difference between two alternatives is within the indifference band. Otherwise, the traveler will choose the alternative with the minimum expected cost. A nested method of successive average is developed to solve the proposed problem. Finally, the rationality of the model and effectiveness of the algorithm are proved by using a numerical example with three-mode transportation network. The results indicate that, different from NL model, the choices of the travelers in BRNL model do not depend on the costs always. The value of the indifference threshold will affect the choice probability. The larger the indifference threshold is, the less sensitive travelers are to the change of cost. In particular, if the indifference threshold is large enough, the travelers’ choices will always depend on the preference.

There are distinct differences among the regional economic and transportation aspects of the three regions of China (eastern, middle and western). This paper investigates differences between the indexes of GDP, GDP per capita, freight turnover, and the Average Density of Transport Line (ADTL) from 1996 to 2007. Indexes in eastern China were found to be significantly higher than those in the middle and west. Moreover, the coefficients of differences in ADTL were estimated among the three regions, and their developing trends were explored by employing the R/S analysis method within fractal theory. The result indicates that the differences in transportation development would decrease from 2008 to 2019 among the three economical regions, but would increase gradually from 2015 to 2019.