1. A survey was conducted of 50 riders on the Centro Route 180: Grant Boulevard bus line in Syracuse, New York to understand ridership patterns. 2. Key findings included that 44% of respondents used Centro most for work, 78% rode daily or 3-6 days a week, and 64% regularly transferred between buses, most commonly to Route 123/20. 3. Additional insights included that 96% of respondents did not own a car, 62% were female, 58% were age 35 or older, and 64% earned $25,000 or less annually.

1. BUS RIDER SURVEY FOR ROUTE 180: GRANT BOULEVARD
A Study Conducted for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro)
By Linda M. Ayala
November 2015

2. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180: Grant Boulevard
Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro)
By Linda M. Ayala
November 2015
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction: This study reports the results of a ridership survey with the Central New York
Regional Transportation Authority (Centro). The results will be presented in a report to the
Marketing and Communications Manager. This report will be used to determine the ridership
survey results of Centro’s Route 180: Grant Boulevard within the City of Syracuse and
Onondaga County.
Methods: The data used in this report were collected from a face-to-face survey of riders while
on board of route 180: Grant Boulevard. From a total of 97 riders on board, 50 riders were
surveyed, and 50 responses were selected.
Findings:
1. The most frequent use of Centro was for work (44%). (n=50)
2. 78% of respondents reported riding a Centro route either daily or 3-6 days/week. (n=50)
3. 64% of respondents reported that they transfer between buses regularly. (n=50)
4. The most frequent route transferred to was 123/20: James Street (25%). (n=32)
5. 96% of respondents reported that they do not own a car. (n=50)
6. 62% of respondents were female. (n=50)
7. 58% of the respondents were 35 years old or older. (n=50)
8. 84% of the respondents reported being either White or Black/African-American. (n=50)
9. 92% of respondents reported English as the primary language spoken at home. (n=50)
10. 64% of respondents reported having an annual income of $25,000 and under. (n=50)
11. 70% of respondents reported that they normally pay full-fare. (n=50)
12. 58% of respondents reported that they normally pay for their bus fare with cash. (n=50)

3. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 1
INTRODUCTION
This study reports the results of a ridership survey with the Central New York Regional
Transportation Authority (Centro). The results focus on Route 180: Grant Boulevard.
The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority aims to improve the transportation
services in the Syracuse area. This study will assist the organization in making decisions to alter
Route 180: Grant Boulevard.

4. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 2
How Data Were Collected
Instrument Design: The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority designed the
2015 Bus Rider Survey for Route 180-Grant Boulevard. The Bus Rider Survey was composed of
both open ended and close ended questions.
Data Collection Method: The researcher collected data using a survey conducted on Route 180-
Grant Boulevard. The surveys were conducted on the dates and times listed below.
Date Time Surveys Obtained Percent of Surveys
Sunday, Sep. 20 1:00-2:00 PM 10 20%
Monday, Sep. 21 7:40-8:30 PM 10 20%
Tuesday, Sep. 22 5:40-5:50 PM 6 12%
Friday, Oct.16 11:20 AM-12:10 PM 17 34%
Sunday, Oct. 18 11:40 AM-12:30 PM 7 14%
Target Population and Sample: There is no way to compare the target population to the
sample. Therefore, the only thing that can be done with the results is understand the sample.
Quality of the Data
Representativeness: The sample used only reports the views of people surveyed and not of all
Centro riders.
Accuracy: Some findings may raise questions because people surveyed could check more than
one answer choice. Therefore, data can be misleading.
METHODS

5. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 3
1. The most frequent use of Centro was for work (44%).
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.
Comment: The total percentages do not add up to 100% because respondents were able to “check
all that apply”. See Appendix II for complete list of responses.
FINDINGS

6. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 4
2. 78% of respondents reported riding a Centro route either daily or 3-6 days/week.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.

7. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 5
3. 64% of respondents reported that they transfer between buses regularly.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.
Comment: See next page for breakdown of routes transferred to.

8. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 6
4. The most frequent route transferred to was 123/20:James Street (25%).
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.
Comment: The total percentages do not add up to 100% because respondents were able to list
more than one route they transferred to. Only routes with more than one transfer are included in
the graph. The routes that only had one transfer are listed below.
48: Liverpool-Morgan
64/66: Western Lights
16: N. Salina
62: Fayetteville
88: N. Syracuse
58: Park Hill
84: Mattydale
76: Salt Springs

9. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 7
5. 96% of respondents reported that they do not own a car.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.

10. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 8
6. 62% of respondents were female.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.

11. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 9
7. 58% of the respondents were 35 years old or older.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.

12. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 10
8. 84% of the respondents reported being either White or Black/African-American.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.

13. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 11
9. 92% of respondents reported English as the primary language spoken at home.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.
Comment: One respondent reported Polish as the language spoken at home. The total
percentages do not add up to 100% because respondents were able to “check all that apply”. See
Appendix II for complete list of responses.

14. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 12
10. 64% of respondents reported having an annual income of $25,000 and under.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.

15. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 13
11. 70% of respondents reported that they normally pay full-fare.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.

16. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 14
12. 58% of respondents reported that they normally pay for their bus fare with cash.
Source: Data collected for Centro by Linda M. Ayala, Community Link Project, Syracuse
University, November 2015.
Comment: Two riders left comments on the back of the survey. The comments focused on
bringing back unlimited ride passes and taking pictures for Centro passes at the Hub for easier
access instead of the Centro offices.

17. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015, Page 15
Table of Contents
Appendix I Bus Rider Survey
Appendix II Bus Rider Survey with Frequencies
Appendix III Codebook
Appendix IV Survey Data
APPENDICES

18. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180-Grant Blvd., November 2015
Bus Rider Survey
Appendix I

19. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015
Bus Rider Survey with Frequencies
Appendix II

20. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015
CODEBOOK
COLUMN FIELD NAME DEFINITION CODE
A RIDER Respondent’s anonymous
identification number
Code is identical to
identification number
B DATE Date survey was conducted 1=September 20
2=September 21
3=September 22
4=October 16
C TIME Time survey was conducted Code is identical to time
D ROUTE 180: Grant Blvd. 180: Grant Blvd.
E PURPOSE For what purpose do you use
Centro most often(check all that
apply)?
1=Work
2=School
3=Shopping
4=Medical Appointment
5=Recreation
99=Other
F FREQUENCY How often do you ride? 1=Daily
2=3-6 days/week
3=1-3 days/week
4=Less than 1 day/week
G TRANSFER? Do you transfer between buses
regularly?
1=Yes
2=No
H TRANSFER ROUTE Routes being transferred to Code is identical to route
transfer
I CAR OWNERSHIP Do you own a car? 1=Yes
2=No
J GENDER Gender 1=Male
2=Female
K AGE Age 1=Under 18
2=18-24
3=25-34
4=35-54
Appendix III

21. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015
5=55-64
6=65+
L ETHNIC GROUP Ethnic Group 1=Black/African-American
2=Asian/Pacific Islander
3=Hispanic/Latino
4=Native American
5=White
99=Other
M LANGUAGE Language spoken at home 1=English
2=Spanish
3=Chinese
4=Russian
99=Other
N INCOME House income 1=Under $25,000
2=$25,000-$30,000
3=$30,000=$50,000
4=$50,000+
O FARE-TYPE Do you normally pay full-fare or
half-fare?
1=Full-fare
2=Half-fare
P PAYMENT TYPE How do you normally pay your
bus fare?
1=Cash
2=10-Ride Pass
3=20-Ride Pass
4=30-Ride Pass
99=Other

22. Bus Rider Survey for Route 180:Grant Blvd., November 2015
Survey Data
Appendix IV