Polycentric development is being promoted to lessen problems of urban sprawl and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This study examines polycentric development in the Wasatch Front Region (WFR), Utah, from a morphological perspective using employment data and a functional perspective by analyzing trip chain behavior. We find that morphologically, the WFR is more dispersed than centered but only has one functional urban center as the downtown Salt Lake City. Regarding trip chains, we find that although the automobile is the dominant travel mode outside urban centers, the trip chains by walking and biking are common in urban centers. Furthermore, we employed a multinomial logit model to examine travel behavior associated with urban centers. The results suggest that the WFR is still dominated by a single urban center, rather than being polycentric, reflecting the reality of many U.S. metropolitan regions. Our study suggests that job opportunities and amenities are critical to increasing functional polycentricity. Moreover, compact development, open space, and walkability encourage trip chain generation in urban centers. Last, improved public transportation facilities in the urban centers provide more options for commuting beyond the automobile and are necessary to increase the functional polycentricity of urban centers.

正在推动多中心发展，以减少城市扩张问题并减少车辆行驶里程 (VMT)。本研究使用就业数据从形态学角度和功能角度通过分析旅行链行为来研究犹他州瓦萨奇前线地区 (WFR) 的多中心发展。我们发现，在形态上，WFR 更分散而不是集中，但只有一个功能性城市中心，如盐湖城市中心。关于旅行链，我们发现虽然汽车是城市中心以外的主要出行方式，但步行和骑自行车的旅行链在城市中心很常见。此外，我们采用多项 logit 模型来检查与城市中心相关的出行行为。结果表明，WFR 仍然由单一城市中心主导，而不是多中心，反映了美国许多大都市地区的现实。我们的研究表明，工作机会和便利设施对于提高功能多中心性至关重要。此外，紧凑的开发、开放空间和可步行性鼓励城市中心的出行链生成。最后，城市中心公共交通设施的改善为汽车以外的通勤提供了更多选择，是提高城市中心功能多中心性的必要条件。