1. 2009 COMMUNITY SURVEY Presentation of Final Results January 21, 2010

2. PROJECT SUMMARY The WTA Strategic Plan recommended implementation of several major service and facilities projects, including a network of high frequency corridors and building a new northern transit hub. WTA began implementing these recommendations in 2005 and all major recommended projects have been completed. The primary purpose of this survey is to measure the satisfaction of the general public and riders with services since the implementation of major these service modifications. 1

3. METHODOLOGY- Resident Telephone Survey Telephone surveys conducted with Whatcom County residents between 11/4 and 11/18/2009. Overall sample of 824 provides accuracy of + 3.4% at a 95% confidence level. 411 surveys were conducted with Bellingham residents. 413 surveys were conducted with County residents outside of the City limits. The subsets provide accuracy at + 4.8% at a 95% confidence level. 2

4. SURVEYS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA CITY% Bellingham50% Blaine5% Everson, Nooksack & Sumas 6% Ferndale10% Lynden8% Unincorporated22% 3

5. AWARENESS Just under half of residents have read or seen something in the media about WTA in the past few months. 4

6. FAMILIARITY WITH BUS SERVICE Sixty-one percent of residents say they are at least somewhat familiar with WTA bus service. 5

7. RESIDENTS WHO RODE THE BUS IN THE PAST YEAR AND FREQUENCY OF USE Over one-third of residents say they rode the bus in the last year and 35 percent of those say they rode the bus at least twice a week. 6

8. PERCEIVED CHANGE IN BUS SERVICE 2004-2009 More than half of residents think that bus service has improved from 2004-2009. 7

9. EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN SERVICE Frequency of service (43%) followed by span of weekday service (35%) were cited as having improved most over the past five years. 8

10. AWARENESS OF GO LINES Half of the residents have heard of the GO Lines and of those 43 percent say the GO Lines run more frequently than other routes. 9

11. ROLE OF BUS SERVICE WTA provides a needed service. WTA provides an option for “choice riders.” WTA is good for the economy and environment. 10

12. SATISFACTION WITH BUS SERVICE Fifty-seven percent of residents are satisfied or very satisfied with WTA services. 11

13. LEVEL OF SERVICE Eighty-seven percent of residents think bus services should be maintained or increased. 12

14. AWARENESS OF REVENUE DOWNTURN Just over one quarter of Whatcom County residents knew there was a funding shortfall prior to taking the survey. 13

15. OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING SHORTFALL More than half of Whatcom County residents say that a sales tax increase should be used to maintain or expand WTA service. 14

16. METHODOLOGY- Onboard Survey Surveys conducted with onboard riders between November 30 and December 5, 2009. Surveys were conducted throughout the service day to secure a representative sample of all riders. 596 surveys were completed, providing a margin of error of + 4.0% at a 95% confidence level. Service improvements results reflect only non-student data. 15

17. ONBOARD RESPONDENT PROFILE 16 The survey respondents approximate the ridership distribution of students and non-students.

18. BUSES USED TO COMPLETE TRIP 17 More than half of the respondents completed their trip without a transfer.

19. EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN SERVICE 18 Frequency and hours of service were considered to be the most improved by onboard respondents. Non-student responses only.

20. AWARENESS OF REVENUE DOWNTURN 19 Just under half of the onboard respondents know that WTA revenues are down.

21. OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING SHORTFALL 20 Over half of the onboard respondents supported a sales tax increase to maintain service levels.

22. SERVICE REDUCTIONS 21 Decreasing Sunday service, the GO lines and service to rural areas were the top three considerations for service reductions.

23. SERVICE EXPANSION 22 Increasing evening and Sunday service and the GO Lines were the top ranked choices for service expansion.