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TPO to participate in statewide household travel survey; hopes for 3,000+ local responses
Summary
The Knoxville TPO will join a statewide household travel survey led by a multi‑MPO procurement; staff expects about 3,000 responses in the Knoxville/Lakeway area and plans a February–May data collection window to update travel demand models.
The Technical Committee heard on Jan. 14 that the Knoxville Regional TPO will participate in a multi‑MPO household travel survey this spring to update travel behavior data and calibrate the region’s travel demand model.
Mike Conger, TPO staff, said eight Tennessee MPOs contracted with a single consultant team (WSP with Westat) to run a coordinated household travel survey. The statewide effort aims for more than 10,000 household responses; the Knoxville and Lakeway combined target is about 3,000 households (the consultant’s statewide allocation produces roughly 3,200 surveys for the combined Knoxville/Lakeway area). Data collection is expected to run from February through May with recruitment letters mailed to about 660,000 addresses statewide.
Household travel surveys collect detailed one‑day trip diaries and household demographic data that are used to calibrate and validate travel demand models. Conger emphasized the survey is intrusive by necessity — respondents report all trips during a selected day — and staff will rely on incentives (roughly $10 per adult participant) and electronic reporting (website/app) to improve response rates. The TPO will run outreach and issue a press release so residents recognize the mailing as legitimate.
The TPO is coordinating with other MPOs to reduce procurement costs and improve sample sizes; staff noted the last regional household surveys occurred in 2008 (expanded eight‑county survey) and 2000 (smaller coverage), and rapid changes in travel behavior — smartphones, ride‑hailing, online shopping and pandemic‑related work‑from‑home trends — make new data necessary for accurate long‑range modeling. After data collection, staff plans to update the region’s travel demand model and follow with a consultant‑led visioning exercise for the model refresh.
