SR 37 Survey & Focus GroupsOverview of Results
March 1, 2018
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Presentation Overview
• Public Engagement Objectives• Participant Demographics• Survey Results
• Travel Patterns• Potential Change to Travel Patterns• Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvements• Alternative Funding Options
• General Focus Group Findings• Questions
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Survey and Focus Group Objectives
Web-based survey• Secure broad participation from route SR 37 travelers• Provide opportunity for input during a 6-week period
Focus Groups• Recruit participants not likely to attend a workshop• Ensure representative participation, especially low-income residents• Provide bi-lingual facilitator for Spanish-speaking participants• Support efforts to reach minority, low-income and Limited English proficient
participants
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Survey Participation from 4 County Residents
Over 3750 responses were collected
• 41% from Solano County residents• 21% from Sonoma County residents• 19% from Marin County residents• 11% from Napa County residents• 7% from other Counties
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19%
11%
21%
41%
7%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Marin Napa Sonoma Solano Other
County of Residence
Marin Napa Sonoma Solano Other
Focus Group Methodology
Conducted six focus groups composed of:
• Sonoma County residents• Napa County residents• Marin County residents• Solano residents• Low-income residents from the 4-county area• Spanish-speaking residents from 4-county area
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Survey Demographics
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Survey Demographics
Key findings in terms of age, race, ethnicity and income of respondents:• Nearly 50% of the respondents were between 45 and 64 years old,
31% between 25 and 44 years old, and 18% over 65 years old. • The majority of respondents (77%) identified as White, and 7% as
Asian, 6% has Hispanic, 3% as African-American, 1% as Native American and 6% and multi-racial.
• 44% of respondents had a household income above $100,000, 30% declared earning between $50,000 and $100,000 and 11% declared earning less than $50,000.
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Survey Demographics
0%
2%
14%
17%
22%
27%
18%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Age
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Survey Demographics
3%7%
77%
6% 6%1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
AfricanAmerican/Black
Asian or AsianAmerican
Caucasian/White Hispanic/Latino Multi-racial Native American
Race/Ethnicity
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Survey Demographics
3%
8%
14%
16%
21%22%
17%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Less than $25,000 $25,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $74,999 $75,000 - $99,999 $100,000 -$149,999
$150,000 or more Decline to state
Household Income
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Survey Results
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Survey Results: Travel Patterns
Live/Work• Most respondents work in Marin County (Novato, San Rafael) and San Francisco. • Most respondents live in the Vallejo area, and many others live in the main
North Bay cities and towns, including Napa, Sonoma, Novato and Petaluma.• 45% of respondents use SR 37 to go to work, and 40% for recreation. • The majority (79%) of respondents drive alone, and 19% carpool.
Travel Frequency:• 52% of respondents travel on SR 37 either daily or a few times a week.• 30% of respondents use SR 37 on weekdays only, and 50% on both weekends
and weekdays.• Segment C is the most frequently travelled segment for survey respondents.
Alternative Routes:• Many respondents declared using alternate routes to SR 37, including Lakeville
Highway (16%) and Highway 121 (12%).
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Survey Results: Travel Patterns
Where do you work?(A total of 1509 pins were dropped on the map)
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Survey Results: Travel Patterns
Where is home? (A total of 2109 pins were dropped)
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Survey Results: Travel Patterns
31%
21%
48%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Daily (5-7 times a week) A few times a week A few times a month
Frequency of Travel on SR 37
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Survey Results: Travel Patterns
45%
2%
14%
40%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Go to work Go to school Run errands Recreation
Reason for travel on SR 37
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Survey Results: Travel Patterns
79%
19%
0% 0% 0% 1%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Drive alone Carpool/Vanpool Public transit Private shuttle Walk Bicycle
Mode of Transportation
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Survey Results: Potential Changes in Travel Patterns
Likelihood of respondents to change their travel patterns:• 29% of respondents are likely to use public transit if better options
are available• 41% stated they were not likely to do so if better transit options were
available• 77% of respondents stated they were not likely to bicycle along SR 37
even if facilities were improved.
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Survey Results: Potential Changes in Travel Patters
29%
41%
30%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Yes No Don’t know/It depends
Likelihood of Using Public Transit
14%
77%
9%
0%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Yes No Don’t know/It depends
I already travel bybicycle on SR 37
Likelihood of Bicycling along SR 37
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Survey Results: Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvement
Where are improvements needed?
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5426 pins were dropped on the map75% traffic concerns35%- road safety concerns15%- flooding concerns
8%- environmental concerns
Survey Results: Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvement
Ranked Level of Concern (low to high) for Key Topics
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
The Environment
Current Flooding
Future Sea Level Rise
Safety
Traffic Congestion
Very High High Neutral Low Very Low 21
Survey Results: Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvement
Traffic Concerns4099 pins were dropped on the map.
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Road Safety Concerns1936 pins were dropped on the map.
Survey Results: Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvement
Flooding Concerns822 pins were dropped on the map.
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Environmental Concerns420 pins were dropped on the map.
Results: Zoom on Segment A
Key Concerns - Segment A:• Sears Point: horrible back-up east-bound in
the afternoons (due to bottleneck in segment B).
• Blackpoint: poor visibility as you go over the bridge.
• Foggy conditions reduce visibility.• Bridge over Petaluma River: dip in the road
before the bridge going west. Dip limits visibility to traffic ahead and wet conditions
• Lakeville intersection: red-light slows down traffic.
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Results: Zoom on Segment B
Key Concerns - Segment B:• Lane reduction creates bottlenecks at Sears Point and Mare Island. • Headlights from oncoming traffic affects visibility at night and creates
unsafe conditions. • Shoulder is too small, creating dangerous conditions when there are
accidents or cars pulled over. • Merging to one-lane segment creates bottleneck on both ends. • Driver behavior is an issue, people often slow down at the bend (sight-
seeing etc.).
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Results: Zoom on Segment C
Key Concerns - Segment C:• Congestion at Mare Island because of
lane reduction in Segment B. • Short merge from SR 37 to I-80 is
considered. • Congestion at Sacramento exit in
Vallejo in the mornings. • Morning congestion at the Hwy 29
exit creates unsafe conditions coupled with bad driver behavior.
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Survey Results: Alternative Funding Options
53%
12%
35%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Yes No Don’t know/it depends
Willingness to Consider Alternative Funding Options
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Survey Results: Alternative Funding Options
37%
24% 24%
15%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Local sales tax measure Tolls collected only on specificsections
Tolls collected for the full route Not willing to consider otherfunding options
Preferred Funding Option
Note: respondents were asked to “select all that apply” for this question. Results therefore reflect percentage of total responses received, and not percentage of respondents. 28
Results: Alternative Funding Options
Willingness to consider alternative funding options:• 53% of survey respondents were willing to consider alternative funding
options and 12% stated they weren’t willing to do so.
Preferred alternative funding options:• 37% of survey respondents- local sales tax measure• 24% of survey respondents - tolls on specific sections• 24% of survey respondents -tolls collected on the full route
Focus Group Responses:• Support for sale tax measure increased when a sunset clause and
accountability measures were added• Mixed opinion on tolls; desire for improved conditions but felt region should
contribute• Overall concerns about increased costs of commuting when few alternatives
are available29
General Focus Group Findings
When possible, most commuters and frequent users modify their schedules to avoid traffic
• Ideal travel window is 10am to 2pm. • Many rearrange their lives in response to anticipated congestion • Those without flexible hours are resigned to the lengthy commute
Several commuters modify their route to avoid traffic. • To get to Vallejo in the afternoon, some will take the Richmond bridge. • Some Sonoma travelers use Lakeville instead of 121. • Some Napa travelers drive up to Petaluma and cut over on 116 to avoid 37: try to gage
traffic right before exit or use waze to determine quickest route. • Mare Island serves as a cut-through to avoid the back-up on 37 as the lanes merge.
Participants seek improved striping and improved lighting of the corridor at nightBad driving to save time is chronic; drivers use shoulders to skip traffic, cut into lanes at the last minute, speed, etc.
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Future outreach is currently being evaluated.
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Next Steps
Questions?
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Survey Results: Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvement
Zoom on segment A
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Survey Results: Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvement
Zoom on segment B
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Survey Results: Major Concerns and Priorities for Improvement
Zoom on segment C
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