Southern Florida Tri-Rail Onboard Transit Survey

The Tri-Rail Onboard Survey was conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2013 at  commuter rail stations in southern Florida.

Transit Agency

HNTB Corporation (2007 and 2013) and GF Consulting Engineers (2008) conducted the studies for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA).

Survey Methodology

Paper-based surveys were conducted for the 72-mile Tri-Rail corridor, which has 18 stations along its corridor in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Tri-Rail operations run 4 a.m.–11:35 p.m. on typical weekdays and 5:20 a.m.–11:45 p.m. on typical weekend days.

2007

Conducted in English, the 2007 study collected information about ridership characteristics including origin-destination patterns, trip purpose, mode of access and egress, socioeconomic characteristics, and customer opinions and preferences.

The resulting feedback was used to determine future improvements to the SFRTA system through the development and update of SFRTA’s Transportation Development Plan.

2008

Conducted in English, Spanish, Creole, the 2008 study collected information about travel patterns, socioeconomic characteristics, and opinions on Tri-Rail service. It also collected passenger counts and parking counts at each Tri-Rail station.

The resulting feedback helped inform updates to SFRTA’s Transit Development Plan, the development of new service expansion scenarios, and improvements to existing Tri-Rail service. Survey results also contributed to regional travel demand models for use by multiple transportation partners throughout southern Florida.  

2013

Conducted in English, Spanish, and Creole, the 2013 study collected information about ridership characteristics including origin-destination patterns, trip purpose, mode of access and egress, socioeconomic characteristics, and customer opinions and preferences. In addition to door counts taken on all Tri-Rail trains throughout the day, the study collected data from passengers to reflect at least one leg of a typical weekday trip as well as rider characteristics and comments on the service.

The resulting feedback was used to determine future improvements to the SFRTA system through the development and update of SFRTA’s Transportation Development Plan.

Survey Records, Data, and Documentation

Survey records include 17,325 participants—6,047 from the 2007 study, 6,103 from the 2008 study, and 5,175 from the 2013 study.

How To Cite the Data

If you use TSDC data in a publication, please contact us and include a citation in your publication consistent with the following format:

"Transportation Secure Data Center." [(year)]. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Accessed [date]: www.nrel.gov/transportation/secure-transportation-data.

More Studies and Surveys

See cleansed data from other transportation studies and surveys.