Community Transportation
Survey for MetroPlan Orlando 

Case Study

Client: MetroPlan Orlando
Focus Area: Regional Transportation Planning
Services Include: Survey Design, Public Engagement Strategy,
Data Collection, Analysis, Reporting

Challenge

MetroPlan Orlando needed a comprehensive understanding of residents’ transportation behaviors and priorities across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties to inform its 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The organization sought data about evolving travel technologies, mobility options, and equity concerns that could inform long-range transportation planning and policy.

Objective

Understand how people move through the Orlando region today, and what they want tomorrow’s system to look like with particular attention to equity, accessibility, and safety.

Solution

We developed a multimodal survey strategy tailored to reach a representative cross-section of the region’s 2.5 million residents. Our team managed all aspects of the project, including instrument design and stakeholder review to data collection, weighting, and reporting.

Outreach materials were translated into Spanish and Haitian Creole to better reach underrepresented populations, and survey access was available via phone, web, and intercept events. Final survey participation exceeded 3,000 respondents, with demographic quotas and geolocation tools ensuring representative coverage.

Key Findings

  • Most (60%) residents preferred to live closer to work, such as in a downtown, walkable environment.
  • One in four (25%) respondents skipped or missed a doctor’s appointment in the past year because they did not have reliable transportation — a seven point increase from 2021.
  • One in three residents (32%) do NOT feel they live in a pedestrian-friendly community, though nearly all (94%) respondents feel planners should prioritize pedestrian-friendly communities.
  • Females are twice as likely as males to cite personal safety as a concern.
  • More than half (53%) of respondents say they often or sometimes use transit (LYNX or SunRail).

 

Impact

Survey findings are already shaping MetroPlan Orlando’s long-range plan and community engagement efforts. They provide a statistically sound foundation for prioritizing transportation investments, informing policy decisions, and advancing equity in infrastructure planning.

This project captured more than data, it captured voices. By reaching residents who are often left out of transportation planning, the survey expanded civic participation and helped surface community priorities across race, income, and geography. For many, it was their first interaction with MetroPlan Orlando, creating new opportunities for awareness and trust. The resulting data now serves as a foundation for more equitable investments in transit, pedestrian safety, and access.

See the Full Report Here

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