Drivers asked to take traffic survey and help plan for post-pandemic gridlock
The pandemic isn’t over but more things are returning to normal—including gridlocked roadways. Now Movability and Texas State University are teaming up to figure out why there are so many people on the road especially when many companies are still working from home. It’s one of the few things people don’t want to see a return to normal.
“In March it was awesome because no one was on the road, so I could get to and from work, but as restrictions start to lift and people start to go outside more often traffic has definitely picked up,” said commuter Chase Dixon.
The non-profit Movability, Central Texas’s transportation management association, wants drivers to help answer the question – why?
“Where are they going? What are they doing? Why are they out and about in their cars? Not trying to judge that at all-- just trying to get a good handle on it, so we can share that with our partners and members and hopefully help them inform some decisions as they're thinking about bringing people back to work,” explained Kate Harrington, outreach and engagement manager at Movability.
In an online survey and partnership with the Translational Health Researchers at Texas State University, they’re asking drivers -- what daily trips they made before the pandemic and what trips they’re making now.
The survey takes about 6-7 minutes to complete and is for people all over the region—not just Austin or Travis county.
“We want to get as big a picture-- as comprehensive of a picture-- as we can,” said Harrington.
The goal is to gather new data about how routines and lifestyles are changing during the pandemic. The information is collected anonymously and will be used as Central Texas employers, developers, and property managers plan for life after COVID-19.
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“This is a vibrant, well-loved region. People are continuing to move here and that means that we are going to need to continue to address mobility unless we just want to be sitting in gridlock,” Harrington said.
The survey closes Friday, March 12th. Brain + Trust, the survey sponsor, is supplying five $50 Favor gift cards, which all survey respondents are entered to receive by completing the survey in its entirety. To take the survey, click here.