Oakland Industrial Park Transportation Needs Assessment Study Sponsored by A service of Hampton Roads Transit Prepared by THE MARKETING SOURCE, INC.

2 Study Area Oakland Industrial Park

3 About the Study Area  Heavy manufacturing.  Few local services (restaurants, shops, etc.).  Large Wal-Mart Distribution Center 2.5 miles from Park.

4 Overall Study Objective To help reduce traffic congestion to and from Oakland Industrial Park.

5 Specific Objectives  Determine the perceived impact of area traffic on congestion.  Identify current transportation modes used.  Determine parking concerns.  Measure how willing employers and employees are to adopt and implement alternate transportation programs.

6 Study Components Employer Commuter Interviews Surveys

7 Methodology Commuter Surveys  402 completed surveys  Conducted March to April  Self-administered Employer Interviews  12 one-on-one interviews  Conducted February to March  Interviews conducted with:  small, medium, and large employers  Plant mangers and human resource personnel

8 Whom did we interview? Employer Interviews

9 Participating Employers employees  Opton, Inc.  Evercel  Kinyo Virginia, Inc.  Pepsi Bottling Group  Wal-Mart Distribution Center 500+ employees  AAFES (Dan Daniels Distribution Center) <51 employees  Swisslog  Silicone Technology employees  Iceland Seafood Corporation  Pliant Corporation  Amcor Rigid Plastics  Custom Integrated Technologies

10 About the participating employers  Many are manufacturers.  Most have:  daily truck deliveries to their business site.  adequate parking for employees.  work in 8/9 or 12-hour shifts.  Majority of employees live in the Newport News area.

11 Employer Interviews Key Findings

12 Key Finding #1 Employers do not believe that area traffic congestion is a current problem. At study onset, no employer offered commute programs to employees.

13 Currently, employers do not perceive traffic as a problem.  Traffic is only a problem in the evening (3:30-4:00 p.m.).  Currently causes few problems for their business.  Parking is not a problem.  However, there is concern for the future.

14 Employers point out problem areas during peak travel times. Warwick Road (Route 60) and Enterprise Dr. Warwick Road and Pickett’s Lane

15 Key Finding #2: Most employers feel some responsibility to help employees with their work commute. Most are willing to take action.

16 What are businesses willing to do?  Stagger shift schedules and offer flextime  Promote alternate modes  Offer transit subsidies  Work together with area businesses

17 Employers are beginning to act.

18 Whom did we survey? Commuter Surveys

19 Many of the commuters surveyed hold production or warehouse positions. (Base = 402)

20 The vast majority of area commuters live in Newport News.

21 Place of residence (Base = 402)

22 Commuter Surveys Key Findings

23 Key Finding #3 Currently, single-occupant vehicle (SOV) usage is average compared to other areas, but willingness to occasionally use alternate modes is higher.

24 Drive alone 85% Carpool 10 Bus 3 Combination 2 Current Commute Mode Area SOV % Oceanfront area66% Naval Station Norfolk 81% Oakland Industrial Park85% Norfolk Commerce Park 86% Oyster Point area88% Lynnhaven Mall area91%

25 Willingness to occasionally rideshare % Willing Area to Rideshare Naval Station Norfolk 42% Oakland Industrial Park39% Norfolk Commerce Park 33% Oyster Point 26% Oceanfront area26% Lynnhaven Mall area24%

26 SOV commuters interested in ridesharing  Begin work between 6:00- 7:00 a.m.  Have previous rideshare experience.  Be more influenced by employer-sponsored incentives.  Be more willing to ride the bus to and from work.

27 Most of the the SOV commuters interested in ridesharing live in Newport News.  52% live in Newport News  21% live in Hampton

28 Employer transit subsidies and vanpool most interest commuters. 34% 27% 33% 24% 22%

29 Key Finding #4 There is interest in improved and expanded bus service.  More stops within the Park (and at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center)  More frequent service

30 Of these, 22% have taken the bus regularly for their work commute. (Base = 391 Commuters) A third (34%) of commuters indicate that bus service is currently available from home to work.

31 Current Morning Bus 6:35 Bus Time arrive at work

32 4:10 Bus Current Evening Bus Time leave work

33 Willingness to Ride the Bus  12% SOV commuters say they would be willing to take a bus for work commute.  But many need more information.  Over a quarter (26%) don’t know if bus service is available from their home to their workplace.

34 Recommendations

35 Recommendations  Focus employer outreach on larger area businesses.  Iceland (have already re-established contact)  AAFES (DOD Transit Reimbursement Program recently implemented; interest in bus)  Consider expanding bus service.  Examine current ridership.  Meet with AAFES and Wal-Mart to determine needs (stop locations and times of operation) and their demand potential.  Advertise current bus stops and times.

36  Re-established contact with Iceland and AAFES.  AAFES is offering DoD transit reimbursement program.  Fort Eustis has requested full study.  TRAFFIX is working with Newport News City Planning and area employers to discuss:  Sidewalks, bike paths, light signals, parking improvements Accomplishments to Date

Oakland Industrial Park Transportation Needs Assessment Study Sponsored by A service of Hampton Roads Transit Prepared by THE MARKETING SOURCE, INC.