This October 2024, RIPTA will be conducting a survey on board our buses and Flex vehicles. Survey staff will distribute paper surveys that will ask riders a set of questions about their trip. The survey will be available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Information we gather from the survey will complement ridership data we already collect through automatic passenger counts (APCs). These passenger counters do not provide other important information, such as where people are coming from, where they’re going, or key demographic data. Data from the on-board survey gives RIPTA a more complete picture of the rider population to best inform future programs, capital projects, and service changes. Your participation in this survey is greatly appreciated by RIPTA, and all participants will have the option to enter a twice a week drawing for a $250 Visa gift card.

What is the Onboard Transit Passenger Survey?

The survey is a study of how people use RIPTA to travel throughout Rhode Island. The questions will focus on travel behavior and demographics. Your responses will help us understand the travel patterns and choices of riders who use our network. This information will help us plan improvements to transit infrastructure and service.

How often are these studies performed and why now?

Onboard transit passenger studies are typically conducted every five years. The last survey we conducted took place in 2021. Since that time, transit service and individual travel patterns have changed.

Who is conducting the study?

RIPTA hired a consultant to conduct the survey. The people who will help you take the surveys on board buses are contracted employees. The data collected belongs to RIPTA and will be shared with Rhode Island Statewide Planning to incorporate into the computational model used to explore travel patterns across the state.

How do I take the survey?

Survey staff will distribute paper surveys and pencils to passengers after they board the bus. These staff are available to support participants in filling out surveys and answering questions. Once you have completed the survey, please return it to the staff person. If you are taking the survey on a Flex or express route, please place your completed survey into the designated box near the front of the vehicle.

How long will it take to complete the survey?

It will take about five to seven minutes to complete.

Why do you need to ask about personal information such as income? What does that have to do with how I use transit?

We are required to collect specific demographic data about passengers — including race, household income, and language proficiency — in order to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This information is submitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approximately every five years. Also, studies have shown that certain household characteristics, such as income, are important indicators of how people travel. By understanding these relationships, our planners are better able to predict how recommended service improvements will perform.

Please keep in mind that your name or other directly personal identifying information is not collected. If you do choose to provide your name and contact information for a chance to win a gift card, which is optional, this information is not recorded with the survey results and is only used to contact you if you win. Once the prize drawings are complete, your name and contact information will be destroyed. Personal identifying information is excluded from records and the results are aggregated, a measure that ensures your privacy and anonymity.

What if I am asked to participate in the survey more than once?

If you’re selected more than once, we would appreciate your participation each time you are selected.

How will I know that the interviewer is legitimate?

Official survey staff members wear a uniform consisting of a yellow vest and an official surveyor badge. They carry paper surveys and will never ask you for information such as your social security number or bank account information. 

What if I have a complaint or a concern about a specific surveyor?

Please note a description of the surveyor and email the provided contact at the email included at the bottom of this form. Please include all relevant information such as the date, time, and/or location of encounter as well as the reason for concern so that the matter may be investigated.

Is the survey available online?

There is an online survey option, but since the survey is specific to the transit trip in progress, only passengers who are on transit during the survey period can complete the survey. If you are offered a survey and prefer to take it online, ask the staff person on-board for a QR code that will link you to the online version.

Are people with disabilities included in the survey?

Yes. Everyone riding a route being actively surveyed will be invited to complete a survey. Surveyors may assist passengers with disabilities in completing the survey. Passengers are also provided with the option to complete the survey either online using a personal device, or off board after their trip. Surveyors can provide pre-paid business reply envelopes to any passenger to complete their survey elsewhere and mail it to RIPTA postage free.

Is the survey available in other languages?

Yes. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Bilingual staff will be available on transit where they are most likely to be needed.

How will the collected data be reported?

Published reports will summarize the aggregated survey data. RIPTA will not store or disclose personally identifiable information. 

Will I have access to the data or the final findings?

A summary report will be available when the study is complete in January 2025.

Is the data shared with or sold to anyone other than RIPTA?

The data collected will be shared with Rhode Island Statewide Planning to incorporate into the computational model used to explore travel patterns across the state. RIPTA will not store or share any personally identifying information. Any data that RIPTA shares will be aggregated, preserving the complete anonymity of respondents.

Will my route be eliminated or changed based on my information?

The information collected will allow us to implement enhancements to the system to make transit more effective, reliable, and efficient. The ultimate goal is to better meet passenger needs.

When will the project be completed?

Surveying of all transit lines is expected to be completed by October 22, 2024. Data processing and final report production is expected to be completed in January 2025.

Who is paying for the survey?

RIPTA receives transportation planning funds from the federal government, which are being used to pay for the survey.

How do I know that my personal information is safe?

RIPTA and the survey consultant are required to protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information (PII). Key provisions include storing PII on secure computers, protecting it from unauthorized use, and destroying PII after an agreed-upon time period.

Also, as previously noted, published reports will summarize the survey data but will not disclose PII.

Who can I contact to get more information on the study?

For more information, reach out to Ella Ackerman at 401-784-9500 X1289 or eackerman@ripta.com. You can also contact our Customer Service team at 784-9500 X2012 or CustomerRelations@RIPTA.com for any other questions you might have.