MDOT, SEMCOG Continue to Collect Travel Data in Michigan

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) remind residents that the MI Travel Counts household travel survey is continuing and invitation letters for the fall portion of the study will be sent to randomly selected households in September and October.

MI Travel Counts will provide vital information necessary to set transportation priorities for the next 20 years. The survey is being conducted for MDOT and SEMCOG by Westat, a nationally recognized research firm. Transportation agencies will use the data to better understand changes in household travel and project citizens' future travel needs. The survey isn't new; the same information was last collected by MDOT and SEMCOG in 2004-2005, and updated by MDOT in 2009.

Randomly selected households will receive a letter inviting household members to participate in the study by providing some demographic information and filling out a travel diary. The diary will detail household activities for 24 hours; information can be provided online or by phone. Some participants will be asked to take part in an additional piece of the study that will use GPS devices provided by Westat to collect specific route information about all the places visited over a three-day period.

As with past surveys, the information provided to MI Travel Counts will be converted to statistical data and used only for study purposes. All information will remain confidential.

The first phase of the survey began in late January and those participants have already provided their travel information. The second phase will continue through the fall.

"We are pleased with the level of response we have received so far," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "For this phase of the study, we want to express how important it is that those who receive an invitation letter take part in the survey. Public participation is the key to effective transportation planning."

"MI Travel Counts will paint a picture of why people travel and how they plan their daily travel activities," Steudle added. "It will provide MDOT and its transportation partners with up-to-date information to identify where to invest limited transportation resources."