posted 09/22/11 06:01 AM | updated 09/21/11 06:51 PM
Views: 1671 | Comments : 6 | News, etc.

City survey to look at transportation habits of Capitol Hill business district visitors

By jseattle
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Over the next few weeks, people walking near Capitol Hill's busiest intersections will be stopped and asked a series of questions to find out more about why they are where they are -- and how they got there. The City of Seattle is conducting "intercept surveys" on the Hill and in neighborhoods across the city to help local business groups better understand their customers and their transportation choices. Details from the City on the survey effort, below:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is partnering with the Office of Economic Development (OED) to fund EMC Research to conduct an intercept survey in several of Seattle’s neighborhood business districts to better understand: 

-          How often people visit neighborhood business districts;

-          The purpose of their visit;

-          What modes people use to access these business districts;

-          What factors affect their mode choice; and

-          What improvements would support their continued patronage

OED will share the final results with participating business districts in an effort to better understand if current marketing and sector strategies are effective.  In addition, the survey will ask basic demographic data (age, gender, income, etc) which will further inform the makeup of clientele. 

This effort is part of the City’s push to develop modal plans (pedestrian, bicycle, and transit) and implement the Walk Bike Ride multi-year initiative which supports projects that make walking, biking, and riding transit the easiest ways to get around in Seattle.

Thanks to West Seattle Blog for the tip -- check out their post for more color on the effort.  

The last effort to look at the Hill like this that CHS is aware of was back in 2008 when the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce commissioned a study that found that parking was seen as a big problem by Seattle area shoppers and that Capitol Hill residents had a disproportionate love for Northgate.

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Living on Capitol Hill
I live on the hill,Denny at Harvard. I am exactly equall distance between 2 QFC's, Safeway 6 blocks away. All my needs are met, shopping, dining, entertainment. Have no need for a car as I use metro for transportation. It all works out quite well. I give high marks to be able to live where I have choices, surrounded by a multi-diverse population, and to move around the city with a swipe of my Orca card. Good job Seattle,kudos to Cap Hill!
Comment by Barry L Hudson
8 months ago
Will they be dressed differently from the many, MANY other survey takers on the hill?
It has gotten to the point where I see one of the people pushing for the Red Cross, or the ACLU, or one of those other groups, and I immediately cross the road to avoid them because I have gone beyond my ability to speak civilly to their harassment.

If the city wants meaningful information, they will need to be immediately identifiable as city employees.
Comment by Gregory Gadow
8 months ago
RE: Will they be dressed differently from the many, MANY other survey takers on the hill?
I'm sick of these street solicitors too! Their very insincere smiles and greetings have begun to grate. I also hate that they pretend to just want to "educate" you about their cause, but what they really want is a donation. And most of them don't care about the group they are representing...they're just doing it for a paycheck.

Now, I just walk right on by....
Comment by calhoun
8 months ago
Transportation on Capitol Hill
I was just on Capitol Hill this morning (Thursday, 9/22). I don't live on the Hill anymore, but I sometimes like to visit. I stopped at one place on 10th Ave East, didn't see any parking and left. However, I stopped at the QFC on 15th E & E Harrison and found parking there. I don't like going to the Broadway area because of the onerous and obnoxious parking meters; the Broadway corridor, especially around Seattle Central Community College needs much better parking. When I lived on the Hill, I rode the bus; this was long before I got a car. If I lived in certain parts of the Hill, I sure wouldn't have a car--even now.
Comment by Kathryn
8 months ago
RE: Transportation on Capitol Hill
To Kathryn: Thank you for taking the time to patronize my business today. I hope you choose to come back soon.
To SDOT: The parking rates are too high! It hurts many of the small business owners I have come to appreciate in the last year. Please set up some sort of signage that makes you visibly different than the canvassers that platoon Broadway shamelessly. You will never pull the information you seek otherwise.
Comment by Jeffrey
8 months ago
RE: Transportation on Capitol Hill
Jeffrey,

I understand your concern about parking rates, but the prices are set at their current level for a reason. That is the price people are willing to pay (market rate), and it is the price at which a space or two is always available for those who are looking for one.

I mean this with all sincerity and no negativity, but if Capitol Hill businesses value their driving customers so much, shouldn't they foot the bill for the parking? The city has made a decision to make that public land parking instead of throughway, bike lanes, larger sidewalk, or any of their many other options, so they should charge what it's worth for people to use that land. If you think that price is too high, perhaps your business should work with the Capitol Hill business community to pay the difference between the price you'd like to see and the price the land is actually worth.
Comment by Shane Phillips
7 months ago