SURVEY FINDINGS
A public survey was executed during September 2020 to better understand the demographics, needs, and values of transit riders in Orange County. Two hundred and fifteen (215) individuals responded to the survey (approximately half responded online via SurveyMonkey and the other half responded via a paper survey). The survey was written in both English and Spanish. A summary of key findings is presented, and full results are available to download below.
- 93% live and/or work in Orange County
- 62% currently ride transit in Orange County (CHT, OCPT, GoTriangle)
- Most use CHT (62%) and OCPT (52%) transit services
- 92% use fixed route or circulator service
- 88% use transit to travel within Orange County
- Most use transit to get to/from work (63%); to reach services (46%); to save money (38%); to support environmental sustainability (37%); and/or because they do not have access to a personal vehicle (30%)
- 68% indicate their transit use has changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
- 53% indicate they intend to return to their normal travel routine after the pandemic is over
- Travel has changed in the following ways (due to the pandemic):
- Leaving home less often (for a variety of reasons)
- Working/attending school at home
- No longer taking children to/from school
- Loss or reduction of employment
- Concern about contracting/spreading COVID-19
- Timing and route changes of transit service due to the pandemic
- Walking/cycling more
- Using private vehicle more often
- Orange County’s transit system could be enhanced by:
- Saturday/weekend service
- Service earlier and later each day
- More frequent service
- 40% want transit service balanced between higher frequency and higher coverage service, even if it means less service overall (40%)
- 19% want more frequent service
- 15% want more coverage
- 17% have no preference
- 9% responded “other” including investing in on-demand and AV/CV technology, redirecting transit funding to other priorities, and “whatever will increase ridership”
- Most live in Hillsborough; southwestern Chapel Hill and Orange County; and Carrboro
- Three riders indicated a Mebane/Alamance County home ZIP code, and three riders indicated a home ZIP code for Cedar Grove
- Racial characteristics track closely with those of Orange County as a whole (64% white; 24% Black or African American; 1% Asian; 6% Hispanic/Latinx of any race)
- 96% speak English at home
- 20% are aged 55-64; 17% are 35-44; 17% are 25-34; and 16% are over 65; one respondent was under 18
- 86% are not students
- Income is widely distributed: 14% are under $15,000 (14%); 14% are $30,000 and $49,999 (14%); and 26% did not indicate income
- 58% always have access to a vehicle
- 18% never have access to a vehicle
- Of the 75% who chose to report a gender identity, 49% of respondents identify as female and 42% identify as male.