NEW HAVEN – UNION STATION RIDERSHIP SURVEYJONATHAN SEERYADVISOR: DR. NICHOLAS LOWNES

Outline

• Background Research

• Survey Goals

• Survey Tools and Design

• Survey Content

• Next Steps

Background Research

• Focus groups and large surveys

• Studies in Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Great Britain

• Encouraging modal shifts

• Determining information demand

• Information service enhancement priorities

(1) Mehndiratta, Shomik, et al. (1999) What Advanced Traveler Information System Information Do Users Want? Transportation Research Record. 1679, pp 41-49

Survey Goals

• Learn how to direct a research project

• Determine ridership’s usage of information services

• Test viability of delivery method

(3) Kenyon, Susan and Lyons, Glenn (2003) Transportation Research Part F:6, 1-21

LimeSurvey• Open source survey application

Survey Delivery

• Requires Internet connection

• Use postcard handouts to distribute survey’s URL

• Respondents enter url into computer or smartphone

• Answers recorded by LimeSurvey for analysis

Survey Content Overview

• Four major sections

• Takes 5-10 minutes

• “Click-friendly”

• http://pubtransys.engr.uconn.edu/survey/admin/admin.php

Usage Section• Determines how respondent uses Union Station’s trains

Service Satisfaction Section• Identifies how satisfied respondent is with train service

and possible sources of dissatisfaction

Information Usage Section• Determines if and how the respondent uses available

information services

(2) Peirce, S., Lappin, J. (2002) Evolving awareness, use, and opinions of Seattle region commuters concerning traveler information: Findings from the Puget Sound Transportation Panel Survey, 1997 and 2000. TRB 2003 Annual Meeting CD-ROM, 1-21.

Service Usage Section• Several identical sections concerning specific information

services

Demographics Section• Obtains additional information from the respondent

Next Steps

• Survey distribution in New Haven

• Further testing of distribution method

• Possible implementation with UConn Buses