Household travel surveys provide detailed demographic and daily trip making information that provide key inputs into current and future transportation planning investments. They answer questions about daily travel habits, and provide insights into travel patterns that allow agencies to better focus their planning efforts on community needs.
WCOG is preparing to begin a new Household Travel Survey (HTS) in the fall of 2025 to update the regional transportation model. More details will be provided once the project is underway.
The 2018 Whatcom Regional Transportation Study was conducted between January 2018 and April 2019. WCOG hired Resource Systems Group, Inc. to prepare the survey's instruments, conduct the survey, process the data, and provide reports and documentation.
The study was conducted as a two-part survey. Part one was a questionnaire that gathered basic demographic profile data and typical travel behaviors. Part two involved a travel diary where each household member specified their daily travel details.
This project was one of the first in the nation to deploy the use of smartphone app technology as the predominant tool used to track daily travel. The smartphone app, RSG’s rMove, accounted for over 60% of the households. Smartphone users were able to participate up to seven days of travel. The remainder of participants reported a single-day of travel through the website travel diary or call-in.
1,451 households completed the study, surpassing study goals by 45%.
Whatcom Regional Transportation Study_Analysis Report
Whatcom Regional Transportation Study_Methodology Report
For data files, please contact WCOG.
The 2008 North Sound Travel Survey was conducted as a joint effort to study travel behavior in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties. The survey documents demographics and 24-hour travel behavior characteristics of 1,500 total households (750 from Whatcom County).