For more information
contact Charles Gorugantula at 816/474-4240.
MARC Home > Transportation Department > External Station Survey
External Station Survey
Roadside survey tracks travel in and out of Kansas City region in 2007
RESOURCES |
Map of roadside survey locations (pdf, 187kb) |
MARC is conducting a roadside “external station” survey to gather data about travel coming into and going out of the Kansas City region. This data will be used along with results from previous household and on-board transit surveys to update the region’s travel-demand model, which helps planners provide better travel forecasts for the metro area. The survey is scheduled to take place at various locations on the outskirts of the Kansas City region beginning in late October 2007 and ending in mid-November.
How the data will be used
Over the last two years, MARC has collected information on travel behavior of the region’s population through a series of surveys. In 2007, MARC will conduct an external station survey to look at travel coming into and leaving the region. This new survey data will be used in conjunction with year 2000 federal census data and the recently concluded household and on-board transit surveys to update the region’s travel-demand model, which helps planners provide better travel forecasts for the Kansas City metro area.
What kind of data will be collected
The primary focus of the external station survey will be to capture current information on traffic volumes, origin-destination travel patterns, travel activity, trip frequency and travel mode of vehicles crossing a set of external stations located around the region. MARC and the project consultant are working closely with the Departments of Transportation, law enforcement and other agencies to identify survey site locations and develop a public awareness plan.
How the survey will take place
Starting in August, a survey team will set up at various locations at the outskirts of the region between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. They will randomly stop motorists to ask questions about their trip origin, destination and general purpose of travel. Each survey should last one to two minutes. Only a small percentage of travelers will be selected to participate, so traffic delays should be minimal. Participation in the survey is voluntary.
MARC last conducted an external survey in 1973. The project is funded by MARC, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Missouri Department of Transportation, and will be conducted by ETC Institute of Olathe. The survey is expected to finish in November.