Personal tools

Your Central Puget Sound Information Source for Making Sustainable Choices

 
You are here:   Home → Personal Environment → Satisfaction with Transportation Choices
Document Actions

Indicator: Satisfaction with Transportation Choices

Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count

Figure 1: Satisfaction with Transportation Choices and Reported Use of Transit

view full size
Upstream Indicators
  •   Vehicle Miles Traveled --- In 2007, VMT for the Puget Sound region increased by 0.6 percent over 2006, continuing an almost 30-year trend. Annual VMT has decreased only three times since 1980 when the first estimates became available.  (view data graph)
more info
Downstream Indicators

There are currently no published Downstream Indicators.

Related Goals

Sustainability Snapshot:

Traffic and long commutes are the main drivers of unhappiness. Long commutes harm the natural environment by generating carbon emission. Even with renewable energies, such as hydro, environmental degradation occurs with over consumption of energy, such as long term damage to rivers and streams. A dense built environment where people can walk or bike to work, to meet necessities and play leads to greater happiness and preserves the surrounding natural environment saved from urban sprawl. King County Metro Transit Rider/NonRider surveys show an increase in the number of trips made on public transit and by walking and a decrease in number of trips made by car. The 2009 survey findings indicate a majority of King County residents are satisfied with their commute choices. People are increasingly choosing alternative modes of transportation and moving closer to their jobs. This trend may accelerate as commute costs continue to rise.

Sustainability Trend:

Satisfaction with public transit is increasing. The number of trips made on transit has increased with one if four households using the transit system. Walking as a mode of transportation has also increased. The number of trips made by car has decreased, according to King County Metro Transit Rider/NonRider survey.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Percent of adults who are satisfied with commute time and access to public transportation and percent who use public transit.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

The rider satisfaction rating for Seattle Metro has been about the same since 2003. According to the 2008 Rider Survey, the overall satisfaction with Metro was 94%, with 54% very satisfied and 41% somewhat satisfied. In 2009 the overall satisfaction reduced to 92% dropped 2% with 47% (a 7% drop) very satisfied riders and 46% (a 5% increase) somewhat satisfied. Between 2006 and 2009, the percent of dissatisfied riders was unchanged at 6%.

The 2009 Rider Survey found that more than 50% of riders 35 years and above are very satisfied with the service. 67% of riders 65 years and above are very satisfied. The satisfaction is lowest among riders 29-34 years at 39% followed by the 18-24 years group at 47%.

Between 2006 and 2009, riders living in Eastern King County are the most satisfied than those in other areas. Riders living in Southern King County have the lowest satisfaction levels in all the County with satisfaction rates decreasing between 2006 - 2009.

In 2009, non-commuters were more satisfied with Metro than Commuters. However, commuters who use Metro to commute to work or school are significantly more satisfied than are those that use other modes of transportation.

In the 2009 survey, riders are asked to rate their satisfaction with 23 different elements of transit service. They were most satisfied with personal safety while waiting for the bus during the day; bus operators ‘safe operation of the bus; driver courtesy; ability to get current printed timetables; and ability to get information about routes and schedules. Riders are the least satisfied with overcrowding on the bus and with the availability of seats.

Data Source and Limitations

The sample sizes in 2007 and 2008 were significantly smaller than in 2006 and 2009. The sample size in 2006 and 2009 were similar. The difference in satisfaction between 2007 and 2008 compared to 2006 and 2009 may be due to the difference in the demographics of the riders surveyed, notably the difference in age, as those surveyed in 2007 and 2008 were older.
For a detailed information on Rider satisfaction in King County please refer to
1.  2009 Rider/Non-Rider Survey by King County Metro Transit. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2009/2009-RNRFinal.pdf

2. 2008 Rider Surve Findings by The Gilmore Research Group for King County Department of Transportation Transit Division. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2008/2008-RFinal.pdf

collapse all

Additional Resources

  • 2007 Metro King County Rider Survey Findings
    King County Metro has conducted an annual telephone survey of transit riders and non-riders for 25 years. The 2007 included questions about the importance of different service attributes and satisfaction with different service features.