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Washington Transportation Commission describes online survey panels that inform ferry fares and state transport policy
Summary
Commission staff explained the Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) and the Voice of Washington online panels, how they collect statistically useful public input and how lawmakers use the findings to inform policy decisions.
Washington State Transportation Commission staff described two online survey panels they use to gather statistically valid, repeatable input from ferry riders and from state residents on transportation policy and funding.
Rima (panel lead) said the Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) was developed because in‑person meetings at ferry terminals produced small turnout for complex fare and service issues. She said the commission recruited riders on vessels and moved to an online panel to capture a broader, more representative set of opinions. Bill Young (project manager) described a second panel, the Voice of Washington State, created to gather resident input on topics such as funding options, toll and fare elasticity and other statewide priorities.
Why it matters: The staff said panels produce statistically defensible results and can be sliced by geography (county or, where sample permits, legislative district), allowing legislators and agencies to see constituent views by district. Commission staff reported the panels have influenced decisions: legislators requested district‑level results, and staff said survey-based findings contributed to fare and funding legislative proposals.
Method and results: The panels are voluntary, use online surveys and do not pay incentives. The commission said it recruits broadly, uses demographic screening to reduce bias and can re‑contact panelists to track opinion changes over time. Staff described using both ‘‘per rider’’ and ‘‘per ride’’ reporting to reflect the difference between the number of voters and the number of trips when evaluating fare or service proposals.
Next steps: Staff said they will expand online focus groups and use the panels for more targeted policy questions (for example, attitudes toward a vehicle‑miles charge and regional allocations of funding). The presenters encouraged other agencies to consider online panels as a cost‑effective complement to public meetings and telephone surveys.
