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WRCOG analysis: most Riverside County trips are 'home‑based other,' not commutes
Summary
WRCOG deputy executive director Chris Gray presented county travel‑pattern analysis using LEHD, Streetlight/Replica and Compass IoT data, concluding a county jobs deficit and that most trips are for non‑work purposes; he urged a 'do‑everything' strategy combining road, tolling, ITS and transit options.
Chris Gray, deputy executive director of the Western Riverside Council of Governments, told the commission that new data tools allow officials to see where people live, where they work and what kinds of trips they make.
Gray said WRCOG used three primary sources—U.S. Census LEHD, big‑data aggregators (Replica/Streetlight) and Compass IoT vehicle‑location feeds—and that the combined analysis shows about 1,000,000 people hold jobs in Riverside County while the county population is roughly 2.4 million. He said about 500,000 residents leave the county daily for work and the region imports roughly 300,000 jobs, creating what he described as a countywide jobs deficit: “we have 3 employed residents for every 2 jobs.”
Gray emphasized that the most common trip type is “home‑based other” (school, shopping, medical visits, errands), not straightforward home‑to‑work commutes. He said the prevalence of non‑work trips means typical peak‑hour, work‑trip‑focused investments do not address much of the county’s congestion. “Are we violating your privacy? Absolutely not,” Gray said when asked about privacy concerns with purchased vehicle data; he added, “we are buying data from third party vendors who have already gotten your data.”
Commissioners asked about methodology and local applicability. Gray explained the census/LEHD coding counts people who report working at home as living and working in the same city, which affects same‑city employment rates. He said WRCOG maintains jurisdiction‑level travel infographics for member agencies and will provide links to staff on request.
On policy, Gray argued jurisdictions cannot rely on a single fix. He recommended a layered approach—capacity projects and interchanges, tolling for those who want express options, ITS/signal coordination, rail and micro‑transit—so residents have choices and the county retains workers and residents. He told commissioners that doubling jobs in a city can attract more inbound commuters and could increase congestion if land‑use effects are not managed.
Gray closed by urging agencies to test assumptions against new data and to pair transportation strategies with land use and economic development plans. Commissioners discussed using WRCOG’s analysis to inform regional lobbying in Sacramento and to help shape the commission’s legislative platform.
