A Study of Northern Virginia Commuters and Employers in the Northern Virginia/Metropolitan DC Area 

(Related to I-66 Congestion Management Plan)

 

 

SPONSORS:

 

Virginia Department of Transportation

          Contact: Joan Morris, Office of Public Affairs, Northern Virginia

 

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

          Contact: Charlene “Gus” Robey, TDM and Marketing Section

 

RESEARCH VENDOR:

 

THE MARKETING SOURCE, INC., Chester, VA.  Conducted 1994

Contact:  Joni Carter

Telephone:  804-438-6091

Email:  marksorc@crosslink.net

 

OVERALL PURPOSE:

 

HOV Lanes were being widened and extended 11 miles on I-66 from Route 50 in Fairfax to Manassas.  The current research was used to understand if area commuters would change their driving patterns (different time/route/etc.) during the construction project. 

 

OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH:

 

To determine:

Ž    The current commuting patterns of those using the affected area of I-66 and their transportation modes.

Ž    The degree to which commuters are likely to use alternative means of transportation to cope with the expected congestion on I-66.

Ž    Which enhancements might be made to various alternative modes to increase their appeal to commuters.

Ž    The degree to which employers are willing to support the use of alternatives to single-occupant vehicle (SOV) use by their employees.

 

METHODOLOGY:

 

Mode of Data Collection

Phone Surveys

Completed Surveys

624 commuters, 151 employers

Survey Population

I-66 Commuters, Area Employers

Survey Instrument

Phone Questionnaire

Criteria for Participation

Commuters: Travel on I-66 between Route 29 in Centerville and Route 50 in Fairfax; Employers: 50+ employees, located in Fairfax Co., Arlington, Alexandria, Washington, DC and Montgomery Co, MD.

 

SELECTED KEY FINDINGS:

 

Ž    As expected, most of those affected by the construction are from Manassas and Centerville.

Ž    Those from Manassas and Centerville also have longer commutes. Fully 60% of those from Centerville and 57 % of those from Manassas commute to points east of the Capital Beltway.

Ž    Linking back to the large percentage of commuters from Manassas and Centerville is the fact that the most used entry point onto 1-66 is State Road 28 in Centerville. Exclusive use of SOV's is generally higher in the west. It should be noted, however, that those living east of the construction area have the highest level of SOV use. This may be due to their reverse commuting pattern.

Ž    Carpools are the “most appealing” alternative to commuters.

Ž    A critical issue is the expected shift from SOV use to other transportation alternatives as a result of congestion on 1-66. Based on the calculations made using the “model,” it appears that the “exclusive” use of SOV's may drop by as much as 12%.

Ž    This same model indicates that the increased use of carpools/vanpools and public transportation are expected to be about equal.

Ž    In reviewing the data, there is a general trend for the commuters in the area to be more receptive to alternatives that offer “greater convenience” (closer to home/work, or more frequent) than the “lower cost” alternatives.

Ž    Employers are not likely to be strongly involved in arranging alternatives to SOV for their employees.

 

IMPLICATIONS

 

Ž    It is possible to alleviate the congestion in the construction zone if commuters can be “guided" to the transportation alternatives that they prefer.

Ž    Ways to enhance the appeal of carpools and vanpools should be an important part of the program to mitigate congestion.

Ž    Equal resources should be allocated to increase the use of public transportation and the use of carpools/vanpools.

Ž    More frequent schedules and revised routes closer to where people live and work should be part of the plan to increase the appeal of public transportation.

Ž    Most of the efforts should be focused on the "commuter" and helping them to make greater use of the alternatives.

 

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS:

 

Phone Survey

Final Report

Questionnaire

 

 

KEY WORDS:

 

I-66, carpool, employees, employers, Northern Virginia, ridesharing, transit, vanpool

 

Related Studies:

 

Northern Virginia Employer Based Transportation Programs - Focus Groups with Non-Participating Employers, 1994.