Somerville Bus Survey

1. Somerville Bus Survey

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Neighborhood of Residence Survey respondents represent a cross-section of Somerville neighborhoods Which Somerville neighborhood do you live in or closest to?

6. Ethnicity White respondents are overrepresented in the survey Which best describes your ethnicity (optional)?

7. Age Survey respondents represent a cross-section of ages, with strong representation in late 20s and 30s Please select your age group (optional).

8. Car Ownership and Bike Ridership More than a third do not own a car, and slightly more than half ride a bike Do you own a car? Do you ride a bike?

9. Active Ridership The vast majority of survey respondents ride Somerville buses Do you currently ride MBTA buses in Somerville (at least once a month)?

10. Frequency of Bus Usage 72% ride Somerville buses at least a few days a week How often do you ride MBTA buses in Somerville?

11. Reasons for Bus Usage Many rely on buses for more than commuting to work For what reasons do you ride buses? (Check all that apply.)

12. Reliance on Bus Service Half rely on buses as their primary mode of transportation Are buses your primary mode of transportation?

13. Multi-Modal Transit Users Most regularly use buses in combination with other transportation, such as subway Do you usually ride buses in conjunction with another mode of transportation, such as transferring to a subway line?

14. Overall Satisfaction with Somerville Bus Service 80% are neutral or negative about frequency of service; bus routes and stop locations generally satisfy riders How would you rate your overall satisfaction with bus service in Somerville? Please rate each of the following.

15. 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 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 * * Very satisfied Very dissatisfied

16. 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” Overall rating of route * *Only 11 respondents for these buses * Very satisfied Very dissatisfied

17. 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” Overall rating of route * * *Only 11 respondents for these buses Very satisfied Very dissatisfied

18. 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” Overall rating of route *Only 11 respondents for these buses * * Very satisfied Very dissatisfied

19. 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” Overall rating of route *Only 11 respondents for these buses * * Very satisfied Very dissatisfied

20. 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) Veryimportant Not at allimportant

21. 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 Why don't you ride buses in Somerville? (Check all the reasons that apply.) (37 responses)

22. 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 If bus service in Somerville were improved, how likely would you be to ride buses more often? (36 responses)

23. SCM Transportation Awareness and Usage About half of respondents are aware of SCM, but very few who have heard of it have used it If yes, have you or any family members used SCM? Are you aware of transportation services for disabled and elderly Somerville residents provided by SCM Transportation? (Of respondents who answered yes to awareness question)

24. MBTA RIDE Awareness and Usage Most respondents are aware of RIDE, but very few who have heard of it have used it If yes, have you or any family members used RIDE (MBTA)? Are you aware of transportation services for disabled and elderly Somerville residents provided by RIDE (MBTA)? (Of respondents who answered yes to awareness question)