Rough commute? DOT wants to hear about YOUR trip to work

CEDAR RAPIDS - As part of a study examining commuting in a seven-county area in Eastern Iowa, the Iowa Department of Transportation is asking for input about your commute to work and what alternatives you'd like to see.

The online survey, which can be accessed here, asks how far people commute to work, whether fuel costs, parking or congestion are concerns, and how much people would spend on a transportation service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The survey will be open through Oct. 12.

'We are surveying the commuters in the seven-county area, targeted to the Interstate 380 corridor, gathering input about what are their needs,” said Brent Paulsen, Iowa DOT technology and research manager.

The counties in the analysis area include Linn, Johnson, Benton, Washington, Iowa, Jones and Cedar.

The online survey is part of the needs assessment phase, or phase two, of the Iowa Commuter Transportation Study.

The DOT has hired HNTB, a Kansas City-based architectural and engineering firm, to lead the study at a cost of $157,786, to fulfill the Iowa Legislature's directive to produce a report by Dec. 15.

'(The Legislature) requires the DOT to conduct a study of the I-380 corridor and the traffic volumes between Linn and Johnson counties,” according to a DOT summary of the project. 'The study is to identify the needs of employers, projected demand, capital and operating costs, and determine the pros and cons of various structures associated with a public transit system between the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids metro areas.”

The Eastern Iowa Council of Governments, an interagency planning organization, had requested money from the Legislature to study public transportation options and how systems in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids could work together.

'Employee mobility and the issue of workforce supply and retention is a significant issue for the region,” said Doug Elliott, executive director of the council. 'I think that is what's driven the study.”

A 2014 report by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments, the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County, and the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization identified public transportation in the 'Creative Corridor” as a need.

The report cites the Census Transportation Planning Package estimate of approximately 8,300 commuters travel between the Cedar Rapids metro area and the Iowa City metro area for work on a daily basis. Nearly all travel by car, 17 percent of Cedar Rapids to Iowa City travelers carpool and 7 percent of Iowa City to Cedar Rapids commuters carpool, according to the report.

Meanwhile, I-380 sees about 50,000 cars and it's projected to increase to 70,000.

At the same time, bus transit services are increasingly popular with usage rates up in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City and University of Iowa.

A 2014 survey by the Rockefeller Foundation found Millennials want to live in cities with multiple public transit options and where they can get around without cars, and a 2014 survey by Mineta Transportation Institute found that more than two-thirds of Americans favor increased federal spending on public transit.

The feasibility of buses, van pools, carpools, park and rides, and an intercity bus service are all being looked at as part of the Iowa Commuter Transportation Study.

Phase one included a service assessment of existing transit modes, including costs, usage levels, and travel times. Phase two will include a needs assessment of existing commuters through the online survey, public hearings and in-person interviews in Eastern Iowa.

In October, phase three will analyze service concepts, including costs, travel times and potential use of high occupancy vehicle lanes, guaranteed ride home program, park-and-ride facilities, carpooling, van pooling, fixed route service, commuter bus service, and intercity bus service. Phase three also will explore potential funding sources.

'The goal is to have several different options for commuter transportation services in the area, so those commuting from Cedar Rapids to the Iowa City area, or Iowa City to Cedar Rapids, have more than one way to travel to work,” Paulsen said.

The study is running parallel to a DOT initiative to expand the park and ride network in Iowa.

Bike lanes and light rail, which had been suggested when the study was announced in May, is not being evaluated as part of the commuter transportation study.

Get involved:

Public Open House #1

'PURPOSE: Identify issues and ideas, and a public hearing on expanding park and ride facilities.

'WHEN: Oct. 2, 2014 5-7 p.m.

'LOCATION: North Liberty Public Library, 520 W Cherry St.

Public Open House #2

'PURPOSE: Share draft recommendations

'WHEN: Nov. 19, 2014 5-7 p.m.

'LOCATION: Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Avenue SE,

'Participate in the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IowaCommuterTRStudy