Central Perimeter Commuter Attitudes SurveyExecutive SummaryTraffic Opinions Question 1: Traffic Congestion The overwhelming opinion is that traffic congestion in the Perimeter Area has gotten worse in the past year. Specifically, 86.6% of the 409 respondents expressed that opinion while only 1.2% indicated that congestion had lessened. An additional 11.2% perceived there to be no change. Question 2: Commute Stress Compared to other aspects of their workday, respondents perceived their commute to be somewhat more stressful (2.57 on a 5 point scale where 1=much more stressful and 5=much less stressful). More specifically, 28.4% found their commute to be much more stressful while 24.9% claimed the commute to be more stressful. Only 14.2% found it to be much less stressful. Question 3: Opinions On Air Pollution and Traffic Congestion The respondents appear more concerned about traffic congestion than air pollution; they also appear to have made the connection between the two. Even so, the respondents appear to be less concerned with air pollution than traffic congestion. 85.1% of the survey respondents strongly agree that traffic congestion is a serious problem in the Perimeter Area, and 62.1% strongly agree that they are personally affected by the problem. Moreoever, 51.1% strongly agree that traffic congestion would be greatly reduced if some people cut back on how often they made car trips. Yet, only 12.2% strongly agree that they can reduce the number of work related trips they make by car each week. In addition, 60.1% of the respondents agreed that air pollution is a serious problem in the Perimeter area but only 34.2% strongly agree that they are affected personally by air pollution. Moreover, only 45.5% strongly agree that air pollution would be reduced if some people cut back on the frequency of their car trips. Question 4: Work Schedule The vast majority (85.8%) of the respondents are employed full time (35+ hours). A few (8.8%) work parttime (<35 hours) and even fewer (5.4%) have a variable work schedule (sometimes less than 35 hours, sometimes more). Question 5: Importance of Public Transit Approximately sixty-five percent (64.8%) of the respondents rated the development of public transit as very important. The mean for the 409 respondents was 1.54 on a six-point scale (where 1=very important and 2=somewhat important). Question 6: Best Solution to Area's Current Transportation Problems The three options presented were 1)building additional highways, 2)persuading people to ride together to and from work, and 3)building a better public transportation system. The strongest support (43.5%) was for doing all three. Individually, 37.7% of the respondents indicated support for building a better public transportation system, 31.5% for persuading people to ride together to and from work and 10.8% for building additional highways. Thus, it appears that significant support does exist for improving the transportation situation by focusing attention on public transit options. However, that support still encompasses less than 50 percent of the respondents. Commuting Patterns/Opinions Question 7: Work Commute Patterns The vast majority (76.5%) of respondents indicated that they normally drive alone to work. Carpooling was used to some extent by 52 respondents, vanpooling by one(1), MARTA by eight(8), two(2) walked, and one(1) bicycled. No respondents said they used Cobb Community Transit. Of those who indicated that they used an alternative to driving alone, no respondent used that option every day. Question 8: Work Schedule Flexibility Forty-nine percent (49.1%) of the respondents indicated that they have no work schedule flexibility as they arrive and depart at specific times set by their employer. However, 23.7% indicate that they can vary their start and end times on a day-to-day basis without approval, and 25.9% suggest that they can start and end at times of their choosing as long pending approval by their employer. Thus, it seems apparent that a significant portion of the area's workers have some flexibility in their work schedules. Question 9: Work Arrival and Departure Times Twenty three percent (22.6%) of the respondents arrive at work at, or prior to, 7:00 AM. 48.0% arrive between 7:00 and 8:30 AM, and 25.0% arrive between 8:30 and 10:00 AM. As for departure times, 63.7% indicate they leave work between 4:00 and 6:00 PM. It appears that the peak commute times are therefore prior to 8:30 AM and from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Only 18.8% of the respondents indicate that their arrival/departure times vary from shift-to-shirt or from week-to-week. Question 10: Preferred Starting Times If offered the option by their employer, 42.4% of the respondents indicated they would not change their current starting time. The most preferred starting time for those expressing a preference is after 9 AM. Question 11: Amount of Flexibility In terms of the amount of flexibility that respondents have in choosing the time they start work, 46.0% indicate that they have none as their employer sets the time. However, 11.7% of the respondents indicate that they have more than 2 hours of flexibility in their starting time, 9.8% have up to 2 hours, 13.2% have 31-60 minutes, 11.7% have 16-30 minutes, and 7.1% have up to 15 minutes. Therefore, it appears again that substantial flexibility does exist in a large portion of the area's work population. Question 12: One Way Commute Distance The average commute distance is 17.51 miles one way. The most frequent commute is between 10 and 15 miles. Forty-seven percent (47.4%) of the respondents report that their one-way commute is in excess of 15 miles. Question 13: Home-to-Work Commute Time The average home-to-work commute time is 39 minutes. The most frequently reported commute time is 30-39 minutes (29.3%), closely followed by 40-59 minutes (23.4%). Nearly forty-three percent (42.9%) of the respondents report their home-to-work commute as 40 or more minutes. Question 14: Work-to-Home Commute Time THe average work-to-home commute is slightly longer at just over 42 minutes. Again, the most frequently reported commute time is 30-39 minutes (24.0%). followed by 40-59 minutes (23.2%). Approximately fifty percent (50.1%) of the respondents report their work-to-home commute as 40 or more minutes. Question 15: Direct Work-to-Home Commute The typical repondent makes a direct trip from home-to-work 4.1 days per week. Over sixty percent (64.6%) of the respondents in the Perimeter area report that they make a non-stop trip to work five or more days per week. Question 16: Direct Work-to-Home Commute The typical respondent makes a direct trip from work-to-home 3.6 days per week. Forty-two percent (41.5%) report they make a non-stop trip from home to work five or more days per week. Thus, it appears respondents are more prone to deviate for other purposes during their commute home. Question 17: Use of Car During Workday Eighty-four percent (84.4%) of the respondents indicate that they use their car during the workday for such purposes as shopping, errands,off-site business meetings, or lunch. Specifically, 16.4% indicate that they so use their car once a week or less, 33% 2-4 times a week, 18.1% once a day, 9.8% twice a day, and 7.1% more than twice a day. Thus it appears that 35% of the respondents can be classified as frequent workday users (once a day or more) and 16.4 can be classified as infrequent users (once a week or less). The remaining 48.6% can be described as moderate users. Question 18: Use of Retail/Service Outlets The respondents indicate a considerable interest in using retail services if they are within walking distance of their worksite. Not surprisingly, restaurant/eatery is the top preference of the respondents (79% indicated that they would be likely to use such a facility). Other services where strong interest appears to exist are grocery stores (65.8%), convenience stores (63.6%), and bookstores (53.8%). A moderate level of interest was shown in using dry cleaners (48.9%), exercise facilities (45.2%), educational facilities (44.0%), office supply stores (39.9%), and video stores (39.1%). The respondents expressed less interest in using a child-care facility (14.9%). Question 19a: Attractiveness of Means of Commuting The respondents indicated the greatest interest in using carpooling (50.1%) and MARTA trains (44.5%) as alternative means of commuting when available. A moderate level of interest was present for MARTA buses (34.%), vanpooling (23.0%), and walking (20.8%). Less interest was expressed for bicycling (11.5%) and Cobb Community transit services (10.0%). Question 19b: Possible use of Commute Alternatives Substantial interest in alternative means of commuting to and from work was expressed as 25.9% of the respondents indicated that they COULD use such a means five days a week. The average number of days per week and alternative could be used was 2.37. Question 20: What Would Encourage the Use of Alternative Transportation The most frequently mentioned way to increase the use of alternative transportation modes was financial incentives (57.5% of respondents), followed closely by a guaranteed ride home (53.3% of respondents). Others frequently mentioned were more frequent and direct bus service to work sites (50.6%), more flexible work hours (43.5%), nearby shopping and services (41.4%), and use of company vehicles for errands (39.4%). Less frequently mentioned alternatives were having to pay to park (38.1%) and showers and clothing lockers (23.7%). Question 21: Rating Environmental Quality in the Perimeter Area On a 5 spoint scale where 1=completely satisfactory and 5=completely unsatisfactory, the respondents rated the environmental quality as follows:
Thus, respondents find the level of congestion and air quality in the Perimeter area to be unsatisfactory while parking is considered satisfactory. They are neutral on the issues of safety of commuting and congestion at lunchtime. Question 22: Would You Use a "People Mover" That Connects Buildings in the Perimeter Area? The respondents expressed and interest in using a tram similar to the "People Mover" at Hartsfield International Airport that would connect buildings in the Perimeter Area. Specifically, 34.7% of the respondents expressed that they would use such a tram everyday. Question 23: Top Priority Destination for a Tram or "People Mover" Nearly half (49.1%) of the respondents felt that the ideal location for a tram would be at the Perimeter Mall. 23.7% of the individuals would prefer a tram that led to restaurants in the Perimeter Area. Demographics and Miscellaneous Question 24: Would You Commute if Transit is Free or Subsidized? Responses to this question indicate interest in free transit services. Specifically, 59.7% indicate that they would use transit more often. 40.3% indicate no interest in transit services even if they are provided free of charge. Question 25: Public Transit Information Access The results suggest that little information is available to the respondents relative to public transit options. Specifically, only 29.1% indicate that they have received information on carpooling, vanpooling, or public transporation from their employers or their co-workers. Question 26: Parking Difficulty In general, the respondents find little difficulty in parking in the Perimeter area. In fact, 82.1% indicate that parking is not at all difficult. However, 15.3% did indicate that parking was somewhat or very difficult. This segment could be targeted for transit use. Question 27: Parking Location The vast majority of respondents (82.5%) park in a lot or garage at their work site. Only 1.7% park further than three blocks from their work location. Question 28: Distance of Nearest Bus Stop from Residence Thirty-seven percent (37.2%) of the respondents report that the nearest bus stop is 3 or more blocks from their residence. Similarly, 39.9% report that the nearest stop is one block or less from their residence, and 31% indicate that the nearest stop is 1-2 blocks. From work, 63% report the nearest stop as being one block or less, and 30.5% indicate that the nearest stop is 1-2 blocks from their worksite. Only 15.5% report the nearest stop as 3 or more blocks from work, and 3.4% do not know the location of the nearest stop. It thus appears that the proximity of bus stops is a greater problem in residential areas. Question 29: Internet Access The responses to the survey indicate that 83.4% of those sampled have Internet access at home and 82.2% have it at work. For a full report please contact Jeff Horton. |