Project 1917 | September 2020 Altamont Pass Commuter Study: A Longitudinal Analysis of Perceptions and Behavior Change Orestis Panagopoulos, PhD Gökçe Soydemir, PhD Xun Xu, PhD CSU TR ANSPOR TATION CONSOR TIUM transweb.sjsu.edu/csutc Mineta Transportation Institute Founded in 1991, the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), an organized research and training unit in partnership with the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San José State University (SJSU), increases mobility for all by improving the safety, efficiency, accessibility, and convenience of our nation’s transportation system. Through research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer, we help create a connected world. MTI leads the Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility (MCTM) funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the California State University Transportation Consortium (CSUTC) funded by the State of California through Senate Bill 1. MTI focuses on three primary responsibilities: Research Science in Transportation Management, plus graduate certificates that include High-Speed and Intercity Rail MTI conducts multi-disciplinary research focused on Management and Transportation Security surface transportation that contributes to effective Management. These flexible programs offer live online decision making. Research areas include: active classes so that working transportation professionals can transportation; planning and policy; security and pursue an advanced degree regardless of their location. counterterrorism; sustainable transportation and land use; transit and passenger rail; transportation engineering; transportation finance; transportation technology; and workforce and labor. MTI research Information and Technology Transfer publications undergo expert peer review to ensure the quality of the research. MTI utilizes a diverse array of dissemination methods and media to ensure research results reach those responsible for managing change. These methods include publication, seminars, workshops, websites, Education social media, webinars, and other technology transfer mechanisms. Additionally, MTI promotes the To ensure the efficient movement of people and availability of completed research to professional products, we must prepare a new cohort of organizations and works to integrate the research transportation professionals who are ready to lead a findings into the graduate education program. MTI’s more diverse, inclusive, and equitable transportation extensive collection of transportation-related industry. To help achieve this, MTI sponsors a suite of publications is integrated into San José State workforce development and education opportunities. University’s world-class Martin Luther King, Jr. The Institute supports educational programs offered by Library. the Lucas Graduate School of Business: a Master of _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated in the interest of information exchange. MTI’s research is funded, partially or entirely, by grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the State of California, and the California Department of Transportation, whom assume no liability for the contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard specification, design standard, or regulation. Report 20-43 Altamont Pass Commuter Study: A Longitudinal Analysis of Perceptions and Behavior Change Orestis Panagopoulos, PhD Gökçe Soydemir, PhD Xun Xu, PhD September 2020 A publication of the Mineta Transportation Institute Created by Congress in 1991 College of Business San José State University San José, CA 95192-0219 TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. 20-43 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Altamont Pass Commuter Study: A Longitudinal Analysis of Perceptions and September 2020 Behavior Change 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Orestis Panagopoulos, PhD Gökçe Soydemir, PhD Xun Xu, PhD Report CA-MTI-1917 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business 11. Contract or Grant No. San José State University ZSB12017-SJAUX San José, CA 95192-0219 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period State of California SB1 2017/2018 Covered Trustees of the California State University Final Report Sponsored Programs Administration 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 401 Golden Shore, 5th Long Beach, CA 90802 15. Supplemental Notes DOI: 10.31979/mti.2020.1917 16. Abstract The Altamont Pass commuter survey study examines commuters’ perceptions and behaviors towards public transportation during 2019-2020. Results are compared with surveys conducted in 2000 and 2006 to investigate whether there have been any longitudinal changes in the perceptions and behaviors of Altamont Pass commuters over the twenty-year interval. As the previous surveys do, this study focuses on the same three counties, namely, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced that comprise the Northern San Joaquin Valley (NSJV). When compared with the previous surveys, these findings reveal some significant differences of responses to most questions, and minor differences of responses to other questions, prompting several important conclusions. Based on the survey responses received, the authors categorize several immediate, short-run, and long-run improvements that can be made in the existing transportation network to alleviate congestion and smooth flow of traffic through the freeways and local public transportation network. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement commuter, survey, Northern San No restrictions. This document is available to the Joaquin Valley, Altamont Pass, public through The National Technical Information questionnaire Service, Springfield, VA 22161 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 46 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Copyright © 2020 by Mineta Transportation Institute All rights reserved. DOI: 10.31979/mti.2020.1917 Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business San José State University San José, CA 95192-0219 Tel: (408) 924-7560 Fax: (408) 924-7565 Email: [email protected] transweb.sjsu.edu/research/1917 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to acknowledge our student assistants Margaret Creighton, Andrew Kennedy, and Esther Massawi for their work in survey collection and data entry. We would also like to acknowledge Kim Anderson and Yvette Davis for writing a letter of support and in their leading role as officials from the San Joaquin County of Government. iv CONTENTS List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. vii Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 I. Introduction and Conceptual Background ................................................................................ 5 II. Data and Methodology ........................................................................................................... 8 III. Empirical Results ................................................................................................................. 10 3.1 Demographics ........................................................................................................... 10 3.2 Employment ............................................................................................................. 10 3.3 Trip Characteristics .................................................................................................. 12 VI. Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................... 28 V. Appendix: Regional Map ...................................................................................................... 30 Endnotes .................................................................................................................................... 31 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 33 About the Authors ..................................................................................................................... 35 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Years at Current Residence vs. Commute Time .......................................................... 15 Figure 2. Years at Current Employer vs. Commute Time .......................................................... 24 Figure 3. Age vs. Commute Time ............................................................................................... 25 Figure 4. Hourly Salary vs. Commute Time ............................................................................... 26 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Demographics ......................................................................................................... 10 Table 2. Employment ...........................................................................................................