TELEPHONE SURVEY OF DALLAS NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY USERS. FINAL REPORT

The Texas Transportation Institute, in conjunction with the Public Policy Resources Laboratory at Texas A&M University, conducted a telephone survey of Dallas and suburban Dallas residents to determine North Central Expressway (NCE) user opinions, travel behaviors, and transportation preferences. Of the 1356 Dallas and Collin County residents surveyed, 81% used the expressway to some extent. A distinction was made between users and non-users with non-users defined as those who traveled on NCE less than once a week, and users defined as those who traveled on NCE at least once a week. Using this definition, 31% of the survey respondents were NCE users. 11% of those surveyed reported they traveled on NCE every day. 41% of NCE users traveled on the expressway to get to work. Of this group, 41% traveled to or through the downtown area to get to work. These commuters typically resided in the NCE corridor, traveled from the West side of the corridor, drove to work alone, and had more than one vehicle in their household. Overall, users of NCE differed from non-users with regard to the following: Larger number of public transportation users; More who take the bus to work; Public transportation issues more important; More apt to use rail; Younger; More males than females; and Higher incomes. In response to questions concerning transportation alternatives, 15.5% of the sample reported that they have ever ridden a city bus (39% of this group reported being frequent bus riders). 61% of the survey respondents said they would use rail to some extent, if provided on NCE, and 12% of this group predicted they would use it every day. 52% of the respondents said they would use a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on NCE, if provided, and 13% of this group predicted they would use it every day. Predicted use of the HOV lane had a negative association with income--the higher the income, the lower the expected use. Predicted rail transportation users were more likely to be young (20 to 39 years) and male. When provided a list of transportation issues related to NCE use, survey respondents rated safety as the number one issue. A similar question pertaining to public transportation also revealed safety as the most important issue.

• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763
• Authors:
  • Womack, K N
  • Burke, D
• Publication Date: 1989-9

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 40 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Behavior; Bus transit; Commuters; Consumer behavior; Consumer preferences; Data collection; Expressways; Gender; High occupancy vehicle lanes; High occupancy vehicles; Income; Public transit; Railroad transportation; Safety and security; Suburbs; Surveys; Telephone; Traffic lanes; Transportation safety; Travel behavior
• Uncontrolled Terms: User behavior
• Geographic Terms: Dallas (Texas)
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus transportation (Intracity); Reserved lanes
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491911
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TX-90/1242-1F, Tech Rept 1242-1F
• Contract Numbers: Study 2-16-89-1242
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM