Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers were tasked to collect surveys from a wide variety of commuters and employers – including public and private sectors. A typical survey approach is to collect a small random sample of responses from the larger population. A random sample survey allows for statistical analysis and discussion of public opinion based on an assumption that the sample is highly likely to represent the population at large (often referred to as statistical confidence interval and margin-of-error). Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) requesetd that the research team collect as many survey responses as possible by working with partner organizations to contact commuters and employers – not a random survey – a targeted non-random survey. More than 70 organizations voluntarily collaborated during outreach in Fall 2014. The following organizations were invaluable, voluntary partners (order is not important):
- Association for Commuter Transportation
- Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership
- BikeHouston
- Central Houston
- City of Sugar Land
- Cousin’s Properties
- Invesco
- Energy Corridor District
- Fort Bend County, Fort Bend Express
- Greater East End Management District
- Greenspoint Management District
- Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions
- Harris County
- Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Houston Public Media, University of Houston
- Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston METRO)
- Near Northwest Management District
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Johnson Space Center
- North Houston Association
- NuRide
- Rice University
- South Main Alliance
- Texas Department of Transportation, Houston District
- Texas Workforce Solutions
- The Woodlands Township and Economic Partnership, The Woodlands Express
- TREK Houston
- University of St. Thomas
- Westchase Management District
- West Houston Association
- Women in Transportation, Houston Chapter
- Young Professionals in Transportation, Houston Chapter
- and any other organizations we may have missed
Organizations received a unique link to the survey, flyers, printable surveys, social media blurbs, and recommended message content (all in English and Spanish). Partners kindly donated their time by extending the invitation to their constituent employers and commuters using their organization’s preferred communication methods. Examples of outreach materials and communication methods are below.
Survey Flyer – English
Survey Flyer – Spanish
Survey Invitation on a Website – Greater East End District
News Radio – Houston Public Media
Email Blast to NuRide Registered Users
Example of Social Media – North Houston Association