Overall public approval of TriMet remains high based on the just-released 2015 Attitude & Awareness Survey, and continues to demonstrate strong approval of the agency’s performance. DHM Research conducted the annual telephone survey that tracks TriMet’s performance, services and ridership.
Overall approval of TriMet remains high
• Overall rider satisfaction remained constant at 87 percent, the same as in 2014.
• Overall approval of TriMet remained high at 72 percent
• 87 percent of non-riders said they value the benefits that TriMet provides to the region, up from 84 percent in 2014.
DHM noted that this survey included more responses from non-riders, which played a role in overall slightly lower ratings, as riders typically provide higher ratings. The results were released today at the board of directors meeting.
TriMet Attitude & Awareness Survey results
The survey compares 2015 to the most recent surveys completed in 2014, 2013 and 2010. Highlights include:
• TriMet’s overall job approval rating was 72 percent, with riders giving a higher rating at 78 percent. Overall approval was 76 percent, 66 percent and 71 percent in 2014, 2013 and 2010, respectively.
• Bus overall approval was 74 percent, with riders giving a higher approval of 79 percent. Overall approval was 78 percent, 65 percent and 74 percent in 2014, 2013 and 2010, respectively.
• MAX overall approval was 80 percent, with riders giving a higher rating of 85 percent. Overall approval was 84 percent, 69 percent and 79 percent in 2014, 2013 and 2010, respectively.
• Perception that the bus and MAX systems operated safely was 73 percent and 75 percent, respectively, with riders giving higher marks at 77 percent for bus and 80 percent for MAX. That compares to overall approval at 76 percent (bus) and 79 percent (MAX) in 2014. The 2015 ratings were higher than in 2013 and 2010.
• For the second year, the survey included questions about bus and MAX reliability. Bus riders rated reliability at 79 percent. In 2014, riders rated it at 84 percent.
• MAX riders rated reliability at 87 percent in 2015 and 91 percent in 2014.
Ridership
• Ridership changed, in part with the opening of the new MAX Orange Line. More riders – 52 percent – used MAX exclusively compared to 44 percent in 2014. Riders who use both bus and MAX were down – 32 percent – in 2015 compared to 39 percent in 2014.
• 77 percent of riders are choice riders – they have a car available or choose not to own a car to ride TriMet. In 2014, that figure was 78 percent.
• Frequent and regular riders used TriMet most often to commute to work and school. These riders rated the fare value at 84 percent positive.
• Occasional and infrequent riders used TriMet most often to get to recreational activities followed by work and going to the airport. These riders rated the value of the fare at 83 percent positive.
TriMet ridership typically goes down when gas prices are low.
• There was a decrease in ridership with 77 percent of residents (ages 16 and older) who rode TriMet in 2015 compared to 80 percent in 2014. DHM noted that ridership typically decreases when gas prices are low.
• 16 percent of riders use a bike to connect to buses and MAX, and most bring a bike on board. This was the first time asking this question.
Public mood
• When asked what the most important major problem that local government needs to address in the metro region, the highest mentions were transportation (27 percent) and social issues (26 percent).
• Respondents were then asked what they would most like to see improved in the transportation system in the area. Traffic congestion and road repair/maintenance were the top answers.
Methodology
The telephone survey included both landlines and cell phones of 800 residents, ages 16+, throughout the tri-county area was conducted in early to mid-November, 2015 with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. Quotas for age and gender in each county were used for a representative sample.
