Friday, February 25, 2011

Research Survey Request - Responses due March 30, 2011

Dear Sir/Madame,

I am a PhD. student in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Jean Andrey on study that evaluate perceptions of equity in cordon pricing based on the stated preferences of survey respondents in the GTA with special focus on social and spatial equity. Cordon pricing charges motorists whenever they pass any of the charging points that are located at the entrances of an imaginary zone around a congested area. This system is proven to be effective in mitigating congestion. However, concerns about social and spatial equity are raised when implementing this system. The findings could be used to shed more light on cordon pricing policy and its specific impact on different socio-economic groups within the GTA, particularly as this research would be the first to examine this transportation policy and its impact on residents in Canada. As there are no research-based surveys of equity of cordon pricing if is implemented in the GTA, the research will provide an opportunity to undertake a survey to evaluate perceptions of equity in cordon pricing. Such a survey may form a baseline for any future data about this transportation policy in Canada.

I would kindly request your assistant in distributing and collecting the survey from your employees. Completion of the survey is expected to take about 15 minutes of their time. They may omit any question they prefer not to answer. There are no known or anticipated risks to participation in this study. Participation in this project is voluntary and anonymous. Further, all information they provide will be considered confidential.

If you have any questions regarding this study, or would like additional information to assist you in reaching a decision about participation, please contact me at 519 888 4567 ex 37041 or by email at aabulibd@uwaterloo.ca. You can also contact my supervisor, Dr. Jean Andrey at 519-888-4567 ext. 33629 or email jandrey@uwaterloo.ca.

I would like to assure you that this study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through the Office of Research Ethics at the University of Waterloo. However, the final decision about participation is yours. If you have any comments or concerns resulting from your participation in this study, please contact Dr. Susan Sykes of this office at 519-888-4567 Ext. 36005 or ssykes@uwaterloo.ca.

Yours sincerely,
Ammar Abulibdeh

----------------------------------survey------------------------------------


Dear Greater Toronto Area Resident:
You are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous survey related to transportation issues in Toronto. This study is being conducted by Ammar Abulibdeh as part of the requirements for a PhD Degree, and is being conducted for a doctoral thesis and not for a business or government. The study is being carried out under the supervision of Dr. Jean Andrey, jandrey@uwaterloo.ca, 519-888-4567 ext. 33629, “Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo”.
The survey is about the possibility of implementing cordon pricing in Toronto. Cordon pricing charges motorists whenever they pass charging points that are located at the entrances of an imaginary zone around a congested area. Charges are flexible, meaning that they vary according to vehicle type, time of day, location, and direction traveled. The charges vary between peak and off-peak hours, and between weekdays and weekends. Cordon pricing has been implemented in different cities around the world, and has been found to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and raise the revenue essential to implement needed transportation improvements. However, concerns about “social and spatial equity” are raised when discussing these systems.
For the purposes of the doctoral research, the boundaries of the proposed zone extend from Jarvis Street on the east, Bathurst Street on the west, Bloor Street on the north, and Lake Ontario on the south with an approximate area of 18 km2.

As a participant in this study, you will complete the 15-minute survey centres on how you may change your travel behaviour to the Downtown Toronto if cordon pricing is implemented. Your participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may omit any question you prefer not to answer and withdraw your participation at any time. The completed surveys will be kept in a secure location for 3 years, and then confidentially destroyed. Electronic data will be kept on a secure server.

Please return the completed survey in the attached addressed, stamped envelope by March 30, 2011

This study has been reviewed by, and received ethics clearance through the office of Research Ethics. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns resulting from your participation in this study, please contact Dr. Susan Sykes in the Office of Research Ethics by e-mail at ssykes@uwaterloo.ca, or by phone at 519-888-4567 Ext. 36005.

Thank you for your participation
Kindest regards

The aim of this 10-15 minutes questionnaire is to find out what the public thinks about the possible implementation of cordon pricing in Downtown Toronto. A map of the cordon zone boundaries in Downtown is provided with the cover letter.
This questionnaire is being conducted for academic purposes only, and its completion is your consent to participate in this study. Your name and identity will not be known by the survey team. The results will be presented in aggregate only.

PART A: TRAVEL INFORMATION

1) In the past two weeks (14 days), how often have you travelled to/from Downtown Toronto? (e.g., if you commute in and out of Downtown Toronto from the 905 region each weekday, but make no other trips to/from Downtown Toronto, you will make 10 trips in and 10 trips out, and you will respond d).
a. Not at all b. 1-5 times c. 6-10 times d. 11-20 times e. more than 20 times
*If ‘a’ selected, please end survey here and mail back in the envelope provided?

2) What is the main purpose of your most frequent trip to/from Downtown Toronto?
a. Commuting to/from work b. Commuting to/from school c. Shopping
d. Visiting friends/family e. Recreation activities f. Other

3) What is the mode of transportation that you usually use for your most frequent trip to/from Downtown Toronto?
a. Car as a driver b. Car as a passenger c. Public transit d. Motorcycle e. Bicycle/ Walk

4) How do you feel about the statement: There is a need to reduce traffic congestion in Downtown Toronto?
a. Strongly disagree b. Disagree c. Neutral d. Agree e. Strongly Agree

PART B: WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOUR AS A RESULT OF CORDON PRICING?
Several cities around the world have recently introduced road pricing in order to manage traffic congestion. I am interested in your perceptions about one possible type of road pricing, whereby vehicles would have to pay to enter or leave Downtown Toronto from or to outlying areas while public transportation and carpooling are free of charge; this type of road pricing is called cordon pricing. For example, if you are traveling from Mississauga to Downtown Toronto and then going back to Mississauga you will be charged twice. People living and traveling inside the cordon zone only will not pay the charges. The fee would be collected during weekdays only, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, and be higher during rush hour periods. All charges would be collected using a system similar to Highway 407.

5) Do you think that cordon pricing would be effective in reducing traffic congestion in Downtown Toronto?
a. No b. Maybe c. Yes d. I do not know

6) Would you support cordon pricing if implemented in Downtown Toronto?
a. No b. Maybe c. Yes d. I do not know

7) Do you think the implementation of cordon pricing in Downtown Toronto would be:
a. To your advantage b. Of little relevance to you c. To your disadvantage

If you do not own a vehicle please skip questions 8 to 12, and go directly to question 13.
8) How much would you be willing to pay to reduce your car trip travel time to/from Downtown Toronto by 5 minutes?

$0.0 $0.25 $0.50 $0.75 $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50 $5.00 $7 $10 $15 $20 $25
9) How much would you be willing to pay to reduce your car trip travel time to/from Downtown Toronto by 10 minutes?

$0.0 $0.25 $0.50 $0.75 $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50 $5.00 $7 $10 $15 $20 $25

10) How much would you be willing to pay to reduce your car trip travel time to/from Downtown Toronto by 15 minutes?

$0.0 $0.25 $0.50 $0.75 $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50 $5.00 $7 $10 $15 $20 $25
11) How much would you be willing to pay to reduce your car trip travel time to/from Downtown Toronto by 20 minutes?

$0.0 $0.25 $0.50 $0.75 $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50 $5.00 $7 $10 $15 $20 $25

12) If cordon pricing were implemented in Downtown Toronto, how would this impact your use of a car for the following trips?
No impact Little impact Some impact Large impact
a. Commuting to/from work □ □ □ □
b. Commuting to/from school □ □ □ □
c. Shopping □ □ □ □
d. Visiting friends/family □ □ □ □
e. Business purposes □ □ □ □
d. Recreation activities □ □ □ □
f. Other □ □ □ □

13) If cordon pricing were implemented in Downtown Toronto, how would it impact your travel behaviour? I would …
Strongly disagree disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
a. Pay the fees and drive as before □ □ □ □ □
b. Drive less □ □ □ □ □
c. Join in car-pooling □ □ □ □ □
d. Use public transportation more often □ □ □ □ □
e. Use my bicycle more often □ □ □ □ □
f. Walk to my destination more often □ □ □ □ □
g. Change the timing of my car trips to reduce charges □ □ □ □ □
h. Switch from public transportation to car □ □ □ □ □

14) The thinking behind your answers to question 13…
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
a. Your value of time is greater than the cordon pricing fees □ □ □ □ □
b. Increase in travel cost as a result of fees □ □ □ □ □
c. You would save travel time by car □ □ □ □ □
d. Travel speeds by car would be increased □ □ □ □ □
e. The current level of service of mass transit □ □ □ □ □
f. I value the comfort and convenience of car travel □ □ □ □ □

15) Cordon pricing would generate revenue that could be spent in different ways. In your opinion, how should revenue generated from cordon pricing be spent. Also, using the last two columns (shaded), indicate how you think the authorities would use the revenue generated.
Revenue should be used to: Expected use by authorities
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Yes No
a. Improve road infrastructure (e.g., new roads) □ □ □ □ □ □ □
b. Improve public transport □ □ □ □ □ □ □
c. Reduce public transport fares □ □ □ □ □ □ □
d. Support the municipal budget in general □ □ □ □ □ □ □
e. Improve cycling and walking conditions □ □ □ □ □ □ □

16) If you were to pay the cordon pricing fees, what would you expect to see compared to the present situation?
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
a. Shorter travel time to Downtown Toronto □ □ □ □ □
b. Additional cost to your trips □ □ □ □ □
c. Less air pollution and fewer environmental problems □ □ □ □ □
d. Unfairly restricted travel options □ □ □ □ □
e. More difficulties in planning trips □ □ □ □ □
f. Downtown Toronto as a better place to work □ □ □ □ □
g. Downtown Toronto as a better place to live □ □ □ □ □

PART C: ABOUT YOU

17) How old are you?
a. 18 – 24 b. 25 – 34 c. 35 – 44 d. 45 – 54 e. 55 – 64 f. 65 +

18) Your gender:
a. Male b. Female

19) Your occupation:
a. Not working b. General office c. Professional/Manager d. Sales/ Services e. Manufacturing f. Other

20) What is your postal code (please write)? ______-______

21) What is your annual household income?
* Household income involves all income of family members in the house
a. Less than $20,000 b. $20,000 - $39,999 c. $40,000 - $59,999 d. $60,000 - $79,999
e. $80,000 - $99,999 f. $100,000 - $119,999 g. $120,000 - $139,999 h. $140,000 or more

22) How many vehicles do members of your household own or lease:
a. None b. 1 c. 2 d. 3 or more


23) Number of persons in household:
a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 e. 5 or more

24) Household characteristics
a. Single adult with no children b. Single adult with child or children c. Two or more adults with no children d. Two or more adults with child or children

25) Number of male and female workers in household
a. Number of male workers______ b. Number of female workers______


Thank you for your participation.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Welcome to the CIV-MIN Blog

This is where we compile all the announcements, postings and non-urgent alerts that used to clog up your email inbox. Feel free to scroll through the latest postings organized by date below, or check our categorized listings on the right for the information you want.