TRANSIT CUSTOMER RESPONSE TO INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES: SURVEY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA TRANSIT RIDERS

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission conducted a study to inventory and review transit-related intelligent transportation system (ITS) projects in the region, evaluate approaches to performance measurement, research the benefits associated with these projects, and establish an ongoing performance monitoring process. The project included interviews with transit managers and vendors and an intercept-mail-back survey of Northern Virginia transit riders. Results of the survey conducted in April 2003 are summarized. Surveys were distributed to more than 14,000 Northern Virginia transit riders at several large transit stations over the course of several weekdays. Approximately 16% of the transit riders who received the questionnaire responded. Specifically, the survey instrument addressed demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, use of computers and the Internet, attitudes toward the current use of technology on transit, the importance of various technology uses, behavior changes as a result of transit ITS, familiarity with and frequency of use of various ITS applications in Northern Virginia, and usefulness and ease of use of ITS applications. Overall, survey respondents were widely supportive of the current use of technology on transit services in the region and, to a large extent, supportive of expanded technology use. The currently offered transit ITS applications have generally been viewed as useful, and the feeling that they are easy to use is widespread--an important accomplishment for the region