I can’t help but wonder how much “science” the typical respondent actually puts into reading the full ACS question that says:

How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK? If this person usually used more than one method of transportation during the trip, mark (X) the box of the one used for most of the distance.

 

It could be an interesting classroom exercise to see how often a TAZ-to-TAZ report of commuters selecting one of the transit choices did not have a viable TAZ-to-TAZ walk-transit-walk path (although how to define “viable” would be subjective, for people without access to an auto may sometimes walk for miles, and make three or more transit-transit transfers). And then check to see if the non-transit drive distance to a viable home-to-work transit path is longer than the transit path. Has anyone tried to do that kind of test?  But when it comes to understanding the nuances associated with transit-related home to work travel that includes different modes of access/egress, the “best bet” these days continues to be the use of a focused intercept-type survey.

 

 

From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of polzin cutr.usf.edu
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2017 8:59 AM
To: ctpp-news@chrispy.net
Subject: Re: [CTPP] Park-Ride vs. Parking Shuttle Commutes

 

Remember, it also asks about usual mode last week. We have often wondered how much bias there might be in answers as well. For example would an occasional biker want to advocate for biking by reporting it is the usual mode? The national household travel survey specifically asks questions about usual mode and actual mode on the day of travel and has been used to calculate measures of mode loyalty. There is literature on that subject.

 

Steven E. Polzin, PhD

Director, Mobility Policy Research

Center for Urban Transportation Research

University of South Florida

polzin@cutr.usf.edu

813-974-9849 (o)

813-416-7517 (c)

 

“If we have data, let’s look at data. If all we have are opinions, let’s go with mine.”

      Jim Barksdale, American entrepreneur and prior CEO of Netscape

 

 

 

From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Marchwinski, Thomas
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 4:40 PM
To: ctpp-news@chrispy.net
Subject: Re: [CTPP] Park-Ride vs. Parking Shuttle Commutes

 

We have seen evidence of people who drive the majority of their trip to a transit parking facility and complete the final 2-10 miles on rail rapid transit to reach the CBD call their trip auto. However, we have seen some people check “subway” when their trip starts 10 to 40 miles from the rapid transit system, either the NYC subway or the PATH rapid transit system, both in NY Metro area.   These subway riders are mostly driving the majority of the trip in auto, but still call  the trip transit based on the last part of the trip.    The best way to determine this is to survey the transit riders at the fringe or station parking (including asking trip purpose).  Thus for any remote parking with transit shuttle, experience in the NY area is mixed.  Probably the majority of fringe transit users are correctly identified in the census as an auto trip if the auto portion of the trip is longer than the transit part of the trip.  However a significant minority will check transit on the census form with the final transit mode selected.   This amount varies a lot but seems to be higher for fixed guideway services like subway and commuter rail.  

 

Tom Marchwinski-  Metro North Planning  (with NJ Transit experience as well).   

 

From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Weinberger Penelope
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 4:00 PM
To: ctpp-news@chrispy.net
Subject: Re: [CTPP] Park-Ride vs. Parking Shuttle Commutes

 

Actually the question instructs you to mark the mode used for the greatest distance.  So if the drive to park and ride is shorter, the trip should be reported as transit.

 

From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Steve Wilson
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 3:55 PM
To: 'ctpp-news@chrispy.net' <ctpp-news@chrispy.net>
Subject: [CTPP] Park-Ride vs. Parking Shuttle Commutes

 

What are peoples’ thoughts and experiences with the definition of auto-access transit trips measured by ACS.

 

The ACS question asks “if this person usually used more than one method of transportation during the trip, mark (X) the box of the one most often.”

 

Are there notable experiences with people referring to a fringe parking plus remote shuttle commute as “transit” instead of auto?