somerville bus survey

October 2006Somerville Bus Survey

Somerville Bus Survey, October 2006 2

Survey Goals

• Benchmark current usage of and satisfaction with MBTA bus service through Somerville

• Identify any issues with specific bus routes• Quantify potential improvements to bus service


Survey Methodology

• Survey distributed via paper and email• Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French

• Mail-in paper survey distributed across Somerville, including handouts at bus stops and local events (e.g., ArtBeat)

• Link to Web-based version on SomervilleSTEP.org, City of Somerville web site, Somerville Journal, and email invitations

• Survey open July 15 - October 11, 2006• 245 total survey completions (53 via paper survey)

• Survey findings are directional and not based on a statistically accurate sampling of the Somerville population


Key Findings

• Many Somerville residents depend on bus service for a variety of needs and ride buses regularly

• Though satisfied overall with bus routes and stop locations, people are generally dissatisfied with frequency of service

• Bus routes with the highest satisfaction include the 88, 87, and 80

• Bus routes with the lowest satisfaction include the 95, 90, and 92

• The most important improvements are better adherence to schedule, more trips, and bus schedules posted at stops

• Reliability is the top reason for those who don’t use buses


Neighborhood of Residence

Survey respondents represent a cross-section of Somerville neighborhoods

Union Square17%

Winter Hill15%

Davis Square12%

Spring Hill12%

West Somerville9%

East Somerville7%

Tufts7%

Prospect Hill4%

Magoun Square3%

Powder House3%

Inner Belt / Cobble Hill1%

Ten Hills0%

I don't live in Somerville

10%Which Somerville

neighborhood do you live in or closest

to?


Ethnicity

White respondents are overrepresented in the survey

White88%

Asian / Pacific Islander4%

African American2%

Hispanic2%

American Indian1%

Other3% Which best

describes your ethnicity (optional)?


Age

Survey respondents represent a cross-section of ages, with strong representation in late 20s and 30s

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Under18

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 orolder

Please select your age group (optional).


No46% Yes

54%

Car Ownership and Bike Ridership

More than a third do not own a car, and slightly more than half ride a bike

No38%

Yes62%

Do you own a car? Do you ride a bike?


Active Ridership

The vast majority of survey respondents ride Somerville buses

No16%

Yes84%

Do you currently ride MBTA buses in Somerville (at least once a month)?


Frequency of Bus Usage

72% ride Somerville buses at least a few days a week

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Once ortwice amonth

Once aweek or so

A few daysa week

Everyweekday

Every day

How often do you ride MBTA buses in Somerville?


Reasons for Bus Usage

Many rely on buses for more than commuting to work

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Commuting towork

Forrecreational

purposes

Shopping Meetingappointments

Visiting familyand friends

For what reasons do you ride buses? (Check all that apply.)


Reliance on Bus Service

Half rely on buses as their primary mode of transportation

No50%

Yes50%

Are buses your primary mode of transportation?


Multi-Modal Transit Users

Most regularly use buses in combination with other transportation, such as subway

No31%

Yes69%

Do you usually ride buses in conjunction with another mode of transportation, such as transferring to a subway line?


Overall Satisfaction with Somerville Bus Service

80% are neutral or negative about frequency of service; bus routes and stop locations generally satisfy riders

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Verydissatisfied

Very satisfied

Frequency ofservice

Cleanliness ofthe buses

Location ofbus stops

Routes takenby buses

How would you rate your overall satisfaction with bus service in Somerville? Please rate each of the following.


Overall Satisfaction by Bus

Highest satisfaction with the 88, 87, and 80;

lowest satisfaction with the 95*, 90, and 92*Aggregated mean ratings of 4 characteristics of each bus

1 2 3 4 5

9590929186899496

101CT2

85808788

Very dissatisfied

Very satisfied

Please rate the following aspects of each bus line that you ride regularly. If you do not ride a particular bus regularly, leave that question blank.• How often this bus runs• How often this bus is on time• What route this bus takes• Where the bus stops are located

* * Only 11 respondents for these buses

*


Satisfaction with Frequency by Bus

Frequency of trips is a particular problem with the 90, 85, 95*, 92*, and 91

Mean ratings of “How often this bus runs”

1 2 3 4 5

9095859291948986

CT2101

96808788

Very dissatisfied

Very satisfied

Overall rating of route

** Only 11 respondents for these buses*


Satisfaction with On-Time Service by Bus

On-time service is a particular problem with the 86, 91, 90, and 96

Mean ratings of “How often this bus is on time”

1 2 3 4 5

8690919695948992

CT2101

88878085

Very dissatisfied

Very satisfied


*

* Only 11 respondents for these buses

*


Satisfaction with Routes by Bus

People appreciate the routes of most buses, especially the 85, CT2, 88, and 87; the 95* route should be examined

Mean ratings of “What route this bus takes”

1 2 3 4 5

9592908994

101808691968788

CT285

Very dissatisfied

Very satisfied


** Only 11 respondents for these buses

*


Satisfaction with Stop Locations by Bus

People appreciate the stop locations of most buses, especially the 88, 80, and 87; the 95* stops should be examined

Mean ratings of “Where the bus stops are located”

1 2 3 4 5

95929085

101CT2

9196869489878088

Very dissatisfied

Very satisfied


** Only 11 respondents for these buses

*


Priorities for Improvements

The most important improvements are on-time service and frequency of service

How important would each of the following changes be to you? (1-5 scale, mean value)

1 2 3 4 5

New bus routes

More bus shelters

Better/clearersignage

More trips onweekends

Bus schedulesposted at bus stops

More trips onexisting bus routes

Better adherence toschedule

Not at allimportant

Veryimportant


Reasons for Not Riding Buses

The most common complaints from those who don’t ride buses regularly are unreliability of service and poor bus routes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Busservice isunreliable

Bus routesdon't gowhere I

need to go

I prefer todrive

Busesdon't runwhen Ineed totravel

I prefer towalk or bik

I neverride a bus

inSomerville

but I doelsewhere

Bus stopsare too far

from me

Buses aretoo

expensive

Why don't you ride buses in Somerville? (Check all the reasons that apply.)

(37 responses)


Likelihood of Increasing Ridership

45% of those who don’t ride buses regularly are likely or very likely to ride more often if improvements are made

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Not at alllikely

Very likely

If bus service in Somerville were improved, how likely would you be to ride buses more often?

(36 responses)


No92%

Yes8%

SCM Transportation Awareness and Usage

About half of respondents are aware of SCM, but very few who have heard of it have used it

No51%

Yes49%

Are you aware of transportation services for disabled and elderly Somerville residents

provided by SCM Transportation?

If yes, have you or any family

members used SCM?

(Of respondents who answered yes to awareness question)


No94%

Yes6%

MBTA RIDE Awareness and Usage

Most respondents are aware of RIDE, but very few who have heard of it have used it

No35%

Yes65%

Are you aware of transportation services for disabled and elderly Somerville residents

provided by RIDE (MBTA)?

If yes, have you or any family

members used RIDE (MBTA)?

(Of respondents who answered yes to awareness question)

somerville bus survey

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