Ridership & Travel Behavior

Shaping Public Transit: One Survey at a Time

Since 2011, ETC Institute has provided comprehensive survey solutions to enhance the future of ridership and public transit. Our expertise spans Onboard Customer Satisfaction, Community Value (Non-Rider and Former Rider), Paratransit, and Transit Employee Surveys.

By leveraging our deep industry knowledge, advanced methodologies, and trusted analysis, we provide the insights needed to shape the future of transportation services across the United States.

On-board Transit

ETC Institute’s on-board transit surveys provide transit agencies with statistically valid ridership insights that improve system performance and enhance the rider experience. By capturing representative data from every route, we help agencies understand passenger preferences, needs, and concerns which empowers rider-focused improvements.

Robust, Representative Sampling

ETC uses a statistically sound approach that samples across all routes and rider types, including weekday and weekend passengers. This eliminates sampling bias and ensures results reflect the full transit network, leading to more accurate and equitable planning.

DirectionFinder® Benchmarks

Built on years of nationwide research, our DirectionFinder® Transit Network offers unmatched benchmarking capabilities. Agencies can measure customer satisfaction and community value against peer systems and national averages to inform continuous service improvement.

From fieldwork to final analysis, ETC delivers the transit survey data you need to improve service quality, strengthen community mobility, and plan with confidence.

On-board Transit Ridership
Trusted Transit Data Dashboard
Beyond Data: Actionable Insights and Benchmarking

ETC Institute doesn’t just collect data—we provide actionable insights through industry leading analytical tools, including:

  • Transit Exclusive Net Promoter Scores
  • Trend Analysis
  • Correlation Matrix Analysis
  • GIS Mapping

We maintain rigorous QA/QC standards through secure data entry protocols, refusal tracking, near real-time data monitoring, and randomized secret shopper audits to ensure the integrity and reliability of every data point.

Our customized dashboards allow transit agencies to visualize real-time survey results and seamlessly integrate findings into strategic planning efforts.

500+ Clients Worldwide

Trusted by Transit Agencies Nationwide

For over three decades, ETC institute has partnered with transit agencies across the country, conducting large-scale research projects that inform policy and enhance the rider experience.

Traffic Count and Classification - Ridership

Traffic Count
& Classification Programs

ETC Institute has over 20 years of experience conducting traffic data collection studies, supporting a wide range of projects and contracts where accurate traffic data plays a critical role. These include:

  • Workplace Surveys
  • Origin-Destination Surveys
  • External Station Surveys
  • Air Quality Surveys
  • Traffic Detouring Analysis
  • Gap Studies
  • Turning Movement Counts

  • Commercial Vehicle Surveys
  • Parking Data Collection
  • Traffic Count Analysis & Processing
  • Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
  • Volume, Classification, & Speed Collection
  • Site/Business Traffic Assessment & Analysis

Commercial Vehicle

Our team specializes in recruiting businesses within your travel-demand model area and collecting detailed information about their vehicle operations, typically over an average weekday, with flexibility to expand the timeframe as needed.

The insights gained from these studies help planners, engineers, and MPOs understand how freight and service vehicles move through the network. The resulting data supports smarter roadway design, congestion management, and investment strategies that keep goods and services moving efficiently.

Commercial Vehicle Survey - Ridership

Inside Our Transit Research

Download the PDF to learn how our research helps transit agencies turn ridership feedback into action.

Ridership and Travel Behavior Bi-Fold