Greenbrier Transportation Needs Assessment Study Prepared for Hampton Roads Transit July 2002 Prepared by THE MARKETING SOURCE Purpose Determine the impact of area traffic congestion. Assess what local employers and commuters are willing to do to reduce congestion. Transportation Needs Assessment Studies in Hampton Roads Southside Naval Station Norfolk Lynnhaven Mall area Norfolk Commerce Park Downtown Norfolk Oceanfront Greenbrier Peninsula Hampton Oyster Point Oakland Industrial Park Study Objectives Identify current commute patterns and commuter programs offered. Determine what incentives would best promote use of alternate modes. Measure employers’ willingness to offer commuter programs. Assess how likely commuters are to use these programs. The Greenbrier Study Area Woodlake Dr. Executive Zone Woodlake Dr. Industrial Zone Independence Pkwy. Zone Greenbrier Pkwy. Zone (N. of Volvo Parkway) Greenbrier Pkwy. Zone (S. of Volvo Parkway) Methodology Employer Interviews Commuter Surveys 30 One-on-One Interviews 927 Commuter Surveys Conducted February - April 2002 Employers Interviewed Woodlake Executive Woodlake Industrial Greenbrier (S of Volvo) Greenbrier (N of Volvo) Independence Pkwy. BAE Systems Associated Dist. CMR Anteon Chubbs Canon Info. Tech. Dai Ei Hiller Systems Cox Comm. GC Services HRPDC Givens/Audiovox ICT Dollar Tree Panasonic LabCorp SIG Logistics Mitsubishi First Data Resources Sentara YUPO Greenbrier Mall Verizon Lifetouch Studios SPSA Household Credit LTD Mgmt. TDS Inc. Towers Perrin Volvo Penta What did we find? The Workplace Area Commuters Area Employers Commuting to the Study Area Area Commuters Over a third of commuters are traveling from Virginia Beach. 50% 40% 36% 29% 30% 17% 20% 7% 10% 5% 4% 2% 0% Vi rg ia in ke a pe a es h C ch a Be N ol f or k rt o P th u o sm l fo f Su k la u ns i n Pe O er h t Routes most commonly used. Route % Who Use I-64 57% Greenbrier Pkwy. 33 Battlefield Blvd. 31 Volvo Pkwy. 29 Military Hwy. 18 Kempsville Rd. 16 Commute Distance Transportation Needs Assessment Study Average OneWay Commute Distance (miles) Greenbrier 15 Oakland Industrial Park 14 Downtown Norfolk 14 Lynnhaven/Oceana 13 Norfolk Commerce Park 13 Hampton 12 Oceanfront 12 Work start and end times vary. Departure Time Arrival Time 35% 35% 30% 30% 25% 25% 20% 20% 15% 15% 10% 10% 5% 5% 0% 0% 59 :59 :59 :59 ater ries : -6 0-7 0-8 0-9 0-l Va 0 0 0 0 0 0 6: 7: 8: 9: 10: A.M. r s 9 9 9 9 :5 4:5 5:5 6:5 late arie 3 V 0- 00- 00- 00- 000 : : : : : 3 4 5 6 7 P.M. Most are driving alone. Carpool 11% Multiple Modes 4% Area Bus 1% Drive alone 84% SOV % Oceanfront area 66% Naval Station Norfolk 81 Greenbrier 84 Oakland Industrial Park 85 Norfolk Commerce Park 86 Hampton area 87 Downtown Norfolk 87 Oyster Point area 88 Lynnhaven Mall area 91 Once commuters arrive at work… Few have problems parking. Parking is a problem 13% Parking is sometimes a problem 25% Parking is not a problem 61% Consistent with what employers report. Nearly half (47%) of commuters rely on the car for work-related travel at least one day a week. Conducting business in the study area Area Employers About area employers Varied industries Manufacturing and distribution centers Call centers Retail/restaurants Hotels Diverse mix of work hours Traditional work hours 24 hours/7 days a week Shift work Employers agree that traffic congestion is a problem. Possible causes Possible results Extended peak travel periods Truck traffic Growth Traffic flow patterns Tardiness Inconvenience and frustration for commuters Decreased revenue for servicerelated businesses Unpredictable problem Employers point to specific problem areas. Problem Intersections Greenbrier Pkwy./Woodlake Dr. Greenbrier Mall Kristina Way / Eden Way Volvo Pkwy./Battlefield Pkwy. Executive Blvd./Volvo Pkwy. Battlefield Blvd./I-64 Live Oak Dr./Old Greenbrier Rd. Greenbrier Pkwy./Crossways Blvd. Regionally: Tunnels & Interstates Suggestions from area employers. Increase and improve bus service. Encourage truck traffic to operate during off- peak hours. Improve signal timing and re-evaluate congested intersections. Promote flextime and ridesharing. Reduce area growth. Are employers and commuters willing to help ease congestion? Willingness to help. Employers Most feel a responsibility to help employees with their work commute. Most interested in vanpools, Guaranteed Ride program, and Preferential Parking. Commuters 41% of SOV commuters are interested in sharing a ride at least once a week. (Higher than other studies.) Several employers have already taken steps to help. Employers offering transportation programs to commuters: Cox Cable ICT Group LTD Management Canon Information Technical Services Household Credit Most often offered to recruit new employees or ease a relocation transition. Preferential parking for carpools and vanpools was the most popular program. TRAFFIX had helped in establishing programs with some employers. Commuters interested in ridesharing Have past rideshare experience Work for large companies (500+) Have annual HH incomes < $30K More responsive to commuter incentives Ridesharing incentives increase commuter interest. Percent SOV Drivers Willing to Rideshare Once A Week with Incentives Guaranteed Ride Preferential Parking Ridematching 34% 38% 42% Transit Subsidies 49% Vanpools 49% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Employers are most interested in the Guaranteed Ride Program and Preferential Parking Attitudes toward alternate modes Carpool is the strong favorite. Preferred Alternate Mode among SOV Commuters Interested in Ridesharing 50% Carpool 12% Light Rail Vanpool 8% Bus 7% Walk/Bike 2% 14% Multiple Modes None of Above 0% 8% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% How do employers and commuters feel about current bus service? Inconvenient Hours of service do not accommodate shift workers. Only 1% use bus to travel to and from work 7% of SOV drivers interested in ridesharing chose “bus” as preferred mode. Reduced bus service has affected businesses and commuters. Service to the area was reduced in December 2001. Some employers have been affected. Competitive Media Reporting (CMR) GC Services Resulted in: Loss of employees. Reduced employment pool. Increased concern about employees who have to walk long distances to area bus stops. What would encourage bus ridership? More Frequent Pick-ups 28% Transit Subsidies 17% More Drop-off Points 25% Nothing 45% Mini Buses 13% Access to Information 23% Improve Bus Interior 6% Interest in the Robert Hall Dr. van shuttle service is low among commuters and businesses. Liklihood of using Van Shuttle Service among Commuters 51% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% r Ve 16% 9% 7% y 17% ly e lik ew m So ha ly e ik tl N er v ot y ly e lik N a ot ll a t ly e lik ur s Un e Employers need more information about the service. Interest and possible participation will depend upon operational issues. However, commuters and employers are not sure where to turn for help. Most commuters are not familiar with rideshare organizations. Awareness of Rideshare Organizations Unsure 9% Yes 6% Organizations Named By those aware TRAFFIX 39% HRT 20 VDOT 6 Stop Transportation 2 Lean on Me Transportation 2 AAA 2 The Regional Transit Co. 2 Could not name No 85% 28 Many employers are unfamiliar with TRAFFIX. Some have heard of TRAFFIX, but many are unfamiliar with programs. A few had worked with TRAFFIX to ease relocation transition. Employers want to know more and are willing to share information with their employees. What we learned… Commuting patterns Traffic congestion is a problem in the area, particularly in specific intersections. Many businesses operate in shifts and commuters’ work hours vary. Many of the area’s workers are commuting from Virginia Beach. Vast majority drive alone. For most, parking is not a problem. Attitudes toward alternate modes Carpools Most preferred by commuters Employers are most interested in preferential parking and guaranteed ride program. Vanpools Appealing to late evening shift workers and service staff. Interest in the Robert Hall Dr. shuttle service was low. Bus Businesses think that current bus service could be improved and expanded. Among commuters… 45% say “nothing” would encourage them to commute by bus. Others said that more frequent drop-off and pick-up times would encourage usage. Willingness to act. Want to help employees with their work commute. Will provide information. High number of SOV commuters interested in sharing a ride at least once a week. Awareness of TRAFFIX is low. Most commuters could not name a rideshare organization. 2% named TRAFFIX. Moving forward… Recommendations Target Virginia Beach commuters. Promote carpooling. Where possible, encourage off-peak deliveries. Investigate road improvements. Increase awareness of TRAFFIX. Maintain outreach efforts with area employers. Promote preferential parking and staggered work hours. Greenbrier Transportation Needs Assessment Study Prepared for Hampton Roads Transit July 2002 Prepared by THE MARKETING SOURCE