by Anne Stinson
On behalf of the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) and with our partners at WSP | Parsons Brinkerhoff (PB), Highland Planning recently completed a Regional Vanpool Feasibility Study.
Over 800 participants participated in the study by completing our online survey, which was intended to identify commuting patterns, issues and opportunities and whether or not customers thought implementing a vanpool would be a good idea for the region.
The survey was hosted through Survey Monkey, and we rolled it out at the beginning of the project in June 2015. Part of the process was educating the public about what a van pool is, so they could assess whether or not it would be attractive to them, and provide feedback.
We were pretty ecstatic about our response rate. Here’s how we did it:
- RGRTA advertised the survey through social media, a press release, and the project web site
- We created variations of the survey for a range of employers throughout the region, and emailed them an invitation to participate
- RGRTA hosted the survey at the kiosk in the Transit Center
- We handed out flyers advertising the survey at incredibly early times at Park and Rides throughout the region, so we could catch commuters on their way into work
- We represented the project at area-wide events, such as the Roc Transit Day (pictured below)
The study concluded that a vanpool program linking commuters from similar origins to similar destinations throughout the Rochester area is feasible. The next step is for RGRTA to consider implementing a pilot program.Learn more about the Vanpool Feasibility Study here.