Analysis of explanatory variables for estimating freight trip attraction in a commercial area in Mexico City

Estimated freight trips attracted (FTA) of an area allows predicting infrastructure needs, such as parking spaces and loading and unloading zones, and choosing street or vehicles size restrictions. Several variables such as employment, surface, and sales have been used as explanatory variables for FTA models. In cities of developing countries, informal trade must be considered for FTA estimation and the choice of freight transportation improvements, since informal trade is a major component of commercial areas. Informal trade impacts infrastructure, occupying lanes and sidewalks, and generating additional FTA. This paper aims to analyze explanatory variables for estimating FTA for both formal and informal establishments, by linear regression models, using fieldwork data collected (employment, surface, and work hours) for a commercial area in Mexico City (Coyoacán).