MAG Conducts Travel Survey

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is working to update travel data for the region, and is seeking help from local residents. During the next few weeks, professional surveyors from NuStats will call households in Maricopa County asking for participation in a travel survey. NuStats is a market research firm based in Austin, Texas that specializes in travel behavior studies.

In the travel survey, randomly-selected participants will complete a household survey over the telephone that profiles each trip maker. Participants will then be sent travel logs to chronologically log trips made by household residents for a 48-hour period.

The last time a study of this nature occurred in Maricopa County was in 1989. MAG expects to use the valuable data collected in this study to update its Long Range Transportation Plan. The Long Range Plan is needed to make the best choices for spending billions of dollars on transportation projects over the next 30 years.

Several important reasons why MAG is engaging in this study are:

• The transportation network has changed since 1989. Among the changes are the completion of Loop 101, Loop 202 and the extension of SR-51 from Camelback Road to Peoria Ave.
• Between 1989 and 1998 vehicle-miles of travel increased at approximately the same rate the County population grew (40-42%), but roadway capacity increased at a slower rate (29%).
• Transit routes have changed.
• Development in outlying areas, away from the downtown area, has changed travel patterns.
• Lifestyles and trip behavior changes. In the past ten years, there has been an increased presence of women in the workforce, travel-to-work patterns have changed, and telecommuting has become commonplace.
• Internet usage has become more common.
• Vehicle ownership has increased.

"The results from this study will allow us to update the data we use in projecting future travel patterns and behaviors," said MAG System Analysis Program Manager Mark Schlappi. "The data will help us more accurately determine what our future transportation needs will be, and lead us to better mobility in the future," he said.

The survey begins in March and goes through the middle of May. For more information about the MAG Regional Household Travel Survey, contact Ratna Korepella at (602) 254-6300 or e-mail her at rkorepella@mag.maricopa.gov You can also visit MAG Web page at www.mag.maricopa.gov.

Media inquiries may be directed to Kelly Taft, Communications Manager, at (602) 452-5020.