Prepared for

Hampton Roads Transit

July 2002

Greenbrier Transportation Needs Assessment Study

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

Greenbrier Pkwy.

Zone (S. of Volvo

Parkway)

Greenbrier Pkwy.

Zone (N. of Volvo

Parkway)

Woodlake Dr.

Executive Zone

Woodlake Dr.

Industrial Zone

Independence

Pkwy. Zone

Methodology

Conducted February - April 2002

Employer Interviews

CommuterSurveys

30 One-on-One Interviews

927 Commuter Surveys

Employers Interviewed

Woodlake Executive

Woodlake Industrial

Greenbrier (S of Volvo)

Greenbrier (N of Volvo)

Indepen-dence 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

Lifetouch Studios YUPO Greenbrier Mall Verizon

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.

36%

29%

17%

7%5% 4%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

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 One-Way 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.

Arrival Time

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

A.M.

Departure Time

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

P.M.

Area 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

Most are driving alone.

Drive alone84%

Carpool11%

Bus1%

MultipleModes

4%

Once commuters arrive at work…

Consistent with what employers report.

Nearly half (47%) of commuters rely on the car for work-related travel at least one day a week.

Few have problems parking.

Parking is aproblem

13%

Parking is not a problem

61%

Parking is sometimes a

problem25%

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.

Extended peak travel periods

Truck traffic Growth Traffic flow patterns

Possible causes

Tardiness Inconvenience and

frustration for commuters Decreased revenue for

service-related businesses Unpredictable problem

Possible results

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.

Most feel a responsibility to help employees with their work commute.

Most interested in vanpools, Guaranteed Ride program, and Preferential Parking.

Employers 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

Have annualHH incomes

< $30K

More responsiveto commuter

incentives

Work for largecompanies

(500+)

Ridesharing incentives increase commuter interest.

49%

49%

42%

38%

34%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Vanpools

Transit Subsidies

Ridematching

Preferential Parking

Guaranteed Ride

Percent SOV Drivers Willing to Rideshare Once A Week with Incentives

Employers are most interested in the Guaranteed Ride Program and Preferential Parking

Attitudes toward alternate modes

Carpool is the strong favorite.

8%

14%

2%

7%

8%

12%

50%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

None of Above

Multiple Modes

Walk/Bike

Bus

Vanpool

Light Rail

Carpool

Preferred Alternate Mode among SOV Commuters Interested in Ridesharing

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%Nothing

45%Transit

Subsidies17% Mini

Buses13%

More Drop-off Points

25%

ImproveBus Interior

6%

Access to Information

23%

Interest in the Robert Hall Dr. van shuttle service is low among commuters and businesses.

7% 9%16%

51%

17%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%

Liklihood of using Van Shuttle Service among Commuters

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.

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 28

Most commuters are not familiar with rideshare organizations.

Unsure9%

Yes6%

No85%

Awareness of Rideshare Organizations

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% namedTRAFFIX.

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.

Prepared for

Hampton Roads Transit

July 2002

Greenbrier Transportation Needs Assessment Study

Prepared by

THE MARKETING SOURCE