05 home zip code. 06 yearly trends ... Downtown Denver is home to a diverse community of workers, and ... However, these
UNIO
N S TAT I O N
T R A V E L by TR A I N
DOWNTOWN DENVER: THE WAY WE MOVE PRODUCED BY:
R E S U LT S O F T H E 2 0 1 6 D OW N TOW N D E N V E R C O M M U T E R S U R V E Y
METHODOLOGY 02 03 04 05 06
The Downtown Denver Partnership solicited responses to the 10th annual Downtown Denver Commuter Survey in September and early October of 2016. A total of 8,603 individuals completed the survey. After removing invalid responses and sampling to correct for an overbalance of responses from one single employer, there were 7,547 total valid responses, which represents 6.1% of the total employee population in Downtown Denver. For a detailed methodology, including limitations and sources, please visit: W W W . D O W N T O W N D E N V E R . C O M
01 mode split 02 age/gender 03 commuter length 04 employer benefits 05 home zip code 06 yearly trends 07 commuting attitudes 08 commuter values
01 MODE SPLIT The Downtown Denver Partnership measures how Downtown employees get to work as a way to help ensure that Downtown Denver has convenient, attractive, affordable and safe mobility choices for employees, visitors, residents and students. Our goal is to increase the number of commuters choosing to bike, walk and take transit while reducing the number of people who drive alone to under 35% by 2021. These goals are designed to help reduce parking demand and increase development opportunities while enhancing Downtown Denver's public realm and pedestrian environment.
DROVE ALONE
40.3%
USED TRANSIT
39.6%
BICYCLED
6.6%
WALKED
5.2%
CARPOOLED
4.7%
TELECOMMUTED
2.1%
MOTORBIKED
1.0%
UBER/LYFT/TAXI
0.5%
VANPOOLED
0.1%
Avg. Commute (miles)
8.3 20% biked 35% transit 26% drove 11% walked
8% biked 42% transit 31% drove 11% walked
Avg. Commute (miles)
12.8
30-49
Downtown Denver is home to a diverse community of workers, and the way people choose to get to work is influenced by their age and gender. Younger male commuters are more likely to bike and walk, while females in their 30s and 40s are more likely to drive alone. Transit use increases among older commuters. By understanding how age and gender influence commuting choices, the Downtown Denver Partnership can best advocate for transportation infrastructure and policy solutions to make Downtown Denver the most attractive employment location in the region and nation.
FEMALE
11% biked 39% transit 36% drove 5% walked
4% biked 35% transit 47% drove 4% walked
Avg. Commute (miles)
OVER 49
02 AGE/GENDER
UNDER 30
MALE
15.9 5% biked 46% transit 37% drove 4% walked
1% biked 48% transit 42% drove 2% walked
40%
40%
RS TE
SH OR
T
UTERS VS. COMM ALL CE N CO A T MM S DI U 40% 35% 30%
19%
20%
18%
15%
Often, the length of a commute into Downtown Denver dictates the number of transportation options available to the commuter and ultimately, what mode is used. Commuters who walk and ride their bikes have the shortest commutes, while commuters who take transit and ride in a vanpool have the longest commutes. Curiously, among the group of commuters of who have a commute of five miles or less, 30% still drive alone to work, despite having more options than longer-distance commuters. However, these short distance commuters are much more likely to walk and bike than the average Downtown Denver commuter.
25%
24%
Mode Split
03 COMMUTE LENGTH
30%
10% 7%
5%
5% 0%
Bike
Drive Alone
Transit
Commutes of 5 Mile or Less
Walk
All Commuters
AVERAGE ONE-WAY COMMUTE LENGTH WALKED
1 MILE
LYFT/TAXI/UBER
3 MILES
BIKED
4 MILES
CARPOOLED
13 MILES
DROVE ALONE
14 MILES
USED TRANSIT
15 MILES
VANPOOLED
49 MILES
ALL MODES AVG.
13 MILES
04 EMPLOYER BENEFITS Downtown Denver employees place a higher value on a transit pass than a parking space. In fact, 87% of employees rate a transit pass as a very valuable or valuable employer-provided benefit. Transit passes are also the most common employer-provided transportation benefit with 68% of Downtown Denver employees receiving a fully or partially subsidized transit pass. Additionally, a transit pass is significantly cheaper for employers to provide than a parking space.
68% OF EMPLOYEES
37% OF EMPLOYEES
87% of employees value this benefit
76% of employees value this benefit
48% of employees value this benefit
EST. COST $35-171/MONTH*
EST. COST $180-250/MONTH
EST. COST $0-25/MONTH
RECEIVE A SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT PASS FROM THEIR EMPLOYER
RECEIVE A SUBSIDIZED PARKING SPACE FROM THEIR EMPLOYER
42% OF EMPLOYEES RECEIVE SECURE BIKE PARKING FROM THEIR EMPLOYER
*based on RTD corporate pass program (regional pass/eco pass)
VALUE OF BENEFITS
Employer-provided transportation benefits directly impact which mode employees decide to use when commuting to work. When employers provide transit passes, employees are more likely to use transit and when employers provide parking spaces, employees are more likely to drive to work. Offering secure bike parking also makes an impact, increasing the number of employee who commute by bike.
INFLUENCE OF BENEFITS IF EMPLOYER PAYS FOR TRANSIT, EMPLOYEE IS
67% MORE LIKELY TO USE TRANSIT
RTD 2016
IF EMPLOYER PAYS FOR PARKING, EMPLOYEE IS
28%
88%
LESS LIKELY TO DRIVE ALONE
MORE LIKELY TO DRIVE ALONE
44% P PA R K I N G
LESS LIKELY TO USE TRANSIT
80027
80020
80021
I-76 US36
80403
80238
80211
I-70
80205 80401
80214
80204
The Downtown Denver Partnership advocates for investment in high-quality transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure in order to ensure that Downtown Denver commuters have a variety of transportation options for their commute. For example, For example, despite still having high drive alone rates, transit use among Stapleton residents commuting to Downtown Denver has increased from 5% in 2015 to 30% in 2016, which may be attributed to the recent opening of RTD’s University of Colorado A Line.
US6
80202 80223
05 HOME ZIP CODES
80218 80203
80227
I-25
80128 80129
80020 80021 80027 80128 80129 80202
Broomfield Broomfield Superior Littleton/Ken Caryl Littleton Downtown Denver
80203 80204 80205 80211 80214 80218
Capitol Hill Auraria/Golden Triangle/Lincoln Park Five Points/Whittier/Cole/Clayton Highland Edgewater/Wheat Ridge Cheesman Park/City Park West
80223 80227 80238 80401 80403
Baker/Athmar Park Lakewood Stapleton Golden Golden
TOP ZIPS FOR TRANSIT
TOP ZIPS FOR DRIVING ALONE
TOP ZIPS FOR BIKING
TOP ZIPS FOR WALKING
TOP ZIPS FOR BIKING/WALKING
50%
50%
40%
40%
06 YEARLY TRENDS
30%
2016 marks the first year that the number of drive alone commuters surpassed the number of commuters taking
30%
20%transit to work in Downtown Denver. The number of bicycle
20%
commuters remained consistent with 2015 and the percentage of commuters walking to work decreased slightly. To ensure we reach our multi-modal 10%
10%
transportation goals, the Downtown Denver Partnership will continue to advocate for a robust and visionary mobility network that enhances transportation options for all users.
0%
07 YEARLY TRENDS Different types of commuters make different choices when deciding which mode to choose. Age and Gender are two of the main drivers of commute choice. Younger commuters are more likely to bike and walk, while females in their 30s and 40s are more likely to drive alone, many times due to child care responsibilities. Finally, transit use increases in older commuters. It is important to understand how age and gender influences commute choice as we look at policy solutions to get people out of their cars.
0% 2013
2013
2014
used transit drove alone
2015
bicycled
2016
walked
2012
2013
2014
used transit drove alone
2015
bicycled
2016
walked
07 COMMUTE ATTITUDES This year, we wanted to explore more than just how Downtown Denver commuters are getting to work. By asking questions about commuting attitudes, we have a better understanding of how commuters perceive certain modes, what options commuters are open to, and how improvements would influence mode choice.
89% 74% of commuters who regularly drive alone to work are willing to try other ways to get to work.
of transit commuters feel transit is a convenient form of transportation to Downtown Denver, with only 71% of drivers feeling that driving alone is convenient.
57% 57% of commuters who regularly drive alone would take transit to work if the service was faster or more frequent.
of commuters who live within 5 miles of Downtown Denver worry about being hit by a motor vehicle while bicycling to Downtown Denver.
41% of commuters who drive alone to work in Downtown Denver would rather not drive to work but feel they do not have any other good options.
08 COMMUTER VALUES When you think about your commuting experience, what do you value most? The time it takes or how much it costs? Fitting in your workout or making your commute less stressful? The Downtown Denver Partnership recognizes that individual values will impact commuting choices, including changing commuting patterns from one day to the next, and we understand that building a premier multi-modal network is the best way to address the commuting needs and values of all users.
CONVENIENCE
COST
• 76% of full-time employees see their commute as a time to relax, while 24% see it as a time to be productive.
• Monthly parking spaces in Downtown Denver can cost anywhere between $150 to over $200 per month.
• Listening to music/audio books while commuting to work can support ongoing learning and development.
• The average cost of an EcoPass for a Downtown Denver employee is just under $40 per month, per employee.
• 1-in-3 commuters nationally have conference calls while using transit.
• A mid-range commuter bicycle costs between $330-$600.
TIME • The average Downtown Denver commuter who drives alone to work spends 52 to 110 minutes in the car per day, which equates to 4-9 hours per week! • Door-to-door commuting times from 44th & Tennyson are approximately 20 minutes by car, 30 minutes by transit and 30 minutes by bike.
HEALTH • Walking to work – or incorporating walking as part of a commute – lowers the risk of high blood pressure. • Transit users fit in an average of 19 extra minutes of walking daily getting to and from transit stops and stations. • Bicycling to work can burn an estimated 200-300 calories in just 30 minutes.
MOVING FORWARD The Downtown Denver Partnership is committed to creating a robust and visionary mobility network in Downtown Denver that enhances transportation options for all users, connects Downtown Denver with surrounding center city neighborhoods and strengthens Downtown Denver's economic development opportunities by ensuring seamless regional connections. The Downtown Denver Commuter Survey measures our progress to create a connected Downtown and educates the community about mobility options, projects, programs and policies.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Downtown Denver Partnership 303-534-6161 www.downtowndenver.com
PUBLISHED JAN. 2017 BY: WITH SUPPORT FROM:
