Greater Houston Commutes

You are here: Home / Findings

Findings

Browse this page.

View a slideshow.

Read the Executive Summary.

Commuter Findings

Commuter survey respondents use a variety of travel modes to access work or school. Some respondents vary their commute practice based on the day of the week, and other commuters use the same mode every day. Commuter survey responses in terms of primary commute practice were:

  • Commuters that only drive alone
    • 4,058 respondents (56 percent of total).
  • Commuters that drive and use alternatives
    • 1,835 respondents (25 percent of total).
  • Commuters that only use commute alternatives
    • 1,305 respondents (18 percent of total).
  • Other commuters
    • Not in workforce (39 respondents).
    • Unemployed (5 respondents).
    • Retired (7 respondents).

The following sections summarize findings in key areas. The information provides insight that may assist the greater Houston region in developing, promoting, and incentivizing alternative commute modes.

What are the three most important reasons you commute by….?

Why drive alone as part or all of commute? 1. prefer independence, flexibility 2. transit does not work for trip and 3. need their vehicle during the day Top three reasons people carpool and/or vanpool as part of commute: save money, use HOV/HOT/managed lanes, convenient, and employer incentive (especially important for vanpool) Top three reasons people take transit as part of commute: avoid traffic, don't have to drive, save money. Top three reasons people bike/walk as part of commute: exercise, no other way to get to work, save money.

You indicated you only use one mode while commuting in the last 30 days.

If that mode was not available to you tomorrow, would you have any other way to travel to work/school?

Researchers asked respondents that marked only one travel mode if they had another alternative option: 37% indicated they had no other viable way to travel to work, if their current way was not available tomorrow.

Consider the following circumstances…which would have the most impact on your commute over the next five years?

47% think roadway construction delays will have the most negative impact on their commute in the next five years; 43% thought fuel prices over $5; 10% thought poor economy How are you most likely to adapt if the next five years your commute was affected? adjust work schedule, days/hours; purchase a more fuel efficient car; telecommute more

Which of these would be better for the greater Houston region? Spending more taxpayer money to…

Which of these would be better for the greater Houston region? Spending taxpayer money to... 55% responded improve transit, bike, walking; 31% said expand or build new highways; 15% said maintain existing highways

Employer Policies. In some cases, there is a disconnect between respondents interested in alternatives and their ability or incentives to do so.

1 out of 5 respondents alread have the option of preferred parking for carpool/vanppol, another 1 out of 5 were not sure, and of the remaining 3 out of 5 respondents only about 21% would agree preferred parking would increase their motivation to use alternative transportation Only 2% of respondents presently have the option of a parking cash-out and of other 98% of respondents only about 27% would find a cash-out motivating About 2 out of 5 respondents presently have the option of an alternative work schedule and of the remaining 3 out of 5 respondents almost 60% wanted an alternative work schedule of some sort 1 out of 5 respondents presently was allowed to telecommute, another 1 out of 5 had jobs not conducive to telecommuting, and of the remaining 3 out of 5 respondents more than 60% wanted the option of telecommuting in the future.

More about Telecommuting/Teleworking

Three most important reasons you currently telecommute some of the time? convenient, avoid traffic, I just want to Three reasons you would like the opportunity to telecommute some of the time? avoid traffic, save money, convenient

Motivation: Financial and Other Incentives

How much would the following incentives motivate you to consider commute alternatives?Summarizes survey respondents' motivation change based on several financial incentives, split into three groups: commuters who only used alternatives, commuters who drove alone, and commuters who drove and used alternatives. The most motivating incentives are lower car insurance cost (less driving, lower cost), tax benefits/cost assistance, free or discounted transit pass, and lower tolls on HOV/managed lanes.Summarizes survey respondents' motivation change based on several non-financial incentives, split into three groups: commuters who only used alternatives, commuters who drove alone, and commuters who drove and used alternatives. The most motivating incentives not involving money are transit closer to home/work/school, employer allowing alternative work schedule, and more reliable transit service.

Preferred Communication Methods

Three best communication methods for commute information? email, through my employer, and roadside signs and billboards

In your personal experience…

Key Challenges to Improve Commuting? (response tags) respondents mentioned transit, promoting alternatives, expanding roadways/capacity, continued population growth, and etc.

Key Challenges to Improve Commuting? (full text responses)

Key Challenges to Improve Commuting? (response tags) respondents mentioned transit, promoting alternatives, expanding roadways/capacity, continued population growth, and etc.

Key Challenges to Improve Commuting? (response tags)

What about employers? Did the survey reveal the extent to which some employers are involved or would be willing to be involved in improving the commuting experiences of their employees? Yes.

Employer Findings

Researchers received more than 213 complete responses and 20 partial responses from employer representatives. Researchers reviewed responses and determined the data to contain usable responses from 61 unique employers – representing 10,000s of employed persons in the greater Houston region. The following information summarizes employer representative opinions:

About 33% of employers allow telecommuting/telework

About 50% of employers allow an alternative work schedule (compressed or flexible)

Employers felt their work-sites were overall most accessible via transit and less accessible by walking or biking

Company’s existing practices?

  • 57% – Do not currently provide employees with benefits or information
  • 23% – Provide employees with information about commute options
  • 20% – Provide employees with benefits about commute options

Most common benefits are transit, vanpool, carpool (if company offers benefits)

Companies willing to provide transportation benefits and incentives do so to:

  • Reduce parking demand
  • Retain employees
  • Reduce employee stress

“Government and non-profit organizations should offer programs and incentives to facilitate commuters using a commute mode other than driving alone.”

  • 8% – Disagree
  • 32% – Neutral
  • 60% – Agree

“Businesses should provide programs and incentives to facilitate employees using a commute mode other than driving alone.”

  • 4% – Disagree
  • 31% – Neutral
  • 65% – Agree

When asked about various incentives or practices regarding commuting and who should take the lead to implement or encourage each…business representatives saw the employer role being to help most with…

  • Alternative work schedules (60%)
  • Telecommute, telework programs (52%)
  • Preferred parking for carpools/vanpools (47%)
  • Providing information, increasing awareness (45%)
  • Pre-tax transit, carpool or vanpool subsidy deducted from paycheck (45%)

Employer representatives were less interested in their company’s role to provide the following incentives:

  • Prize drawings (36%)
  • Lunchtime shuttles (36%)
  • Secure bike parking, showers, and lockers (28%)

Employer representatives thought the region benefits when commuters travel by alternative modes because of…

  • Reduced traffic congestion
  • Reduced family expenses
  • Improved air quality

Please cite the study using the following information:

  • Study Name:  H-GAC Travel Options Planning & Research Study
  • Survey Name:  2014 Commuter & Employer Transportation Survey
  • Author:  Texas A&M Transportation Institute
  • Retrieved from:  www.ghcommutes.org