• At a regional level, there is a notable percentage increase in active transportation and transit mode share.
• The percentage of trips taken using active transportation and transit is coming closer to the Regional Growth Strategy target of 42% of all trips by 2038.
• The increased use of active transportation and transit aligns with the regional trends identified in the 2016 census, and with data from travel surveys and census for many other mid to large sized regions across Canada.
• The growth in overall trips is less than growth in population.
• The number of discretionary trips has decreased.
• Transit mode share has seen notable increases, which is bucking trends in other parts of Canada and the USA where transit ridership has plateaued or declined.
• Jurisdictions with greater land-use density show the most notable increases in active transportation.

The information collected is vital to micro and macro transportation, environmental and housing models used to inform planning, budgeting and infrastructure decisions across the region by both the CRD and its many partners.

Furthermore, the survey data creates standardized measurements such as mode share at regional, sub-regional and local levels that can be used as performance indicators to monitor the success of planning and infrastructure decisions.

The data from the survey can be used to build a case for grants from higher levels of government which are increasingly demanding data-supported applications. For example, it can be used in conjunction with localized count data to suggest / demonstrate that similar infrastructure improvements have led to increased uptake of active transportation and transit in specific areas.

In 2017, 7,159 households completed the survey, representing approximately 4.2% of the regional population.

In 2011, 6,039 households completed the survey, representing approximately 3.5% of the regional population.

The information collected is used as vital inputs into micro and macro transportation, environmental and housing models that are used to inform planning, budgeting and infrastructure decisions across the region by both the CRD and its many partners.

The information collected will be used to plan improvements to roads, transit infrastructure and services, and pedestrian and cycling facilities.

• The geography was altered to exclude portions of the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) which had previously been counted. CVRD staff declined the offer to participate in the survey this time.
• A larger percentage of households were surveyed which provides for more robust data.
• The survey introduced address-based targeting to reach cell phone only households which now make up a substantial proportion of households. Previous surveys had relied on phone directories as their contact base. Surveying cell phone only households has likely corrected an underrepresentation of active and transit mode share in 2011 and earlier surveys.
• The age limit was reduced to 5 years from 11 years of age in keeping with general industry practice thus providing a greater school profile.
• Respondents were able to complete the survey online via an individual login. Approximately 70% of surveys were completed online. .

The CRD is responsible for collecting and distributing the data to all of its partners. The OD Survey provides the most comprehensive level of transportation data for the region and its local municipalities. CRD staff work closely with our partners to provide the level of data they require for their planning and reporting purposes. This includes the creation of custom reports and working closely with academic institutions to apply the data to important transportation research at a local, sub-regional and regional scale.

Many municipalities, BC Transit, BC Ferries, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and the South Island Prosperity Project are requesting the 2017 data. This data will inform decision making, reporting and planning for the next five to six years. Collecting this level of data at a municipal or sub-regional level would be cost-prohibitive and would be unlikely to provide the information necessary to inform decisions, particularly origins of travel and the identification of regional travel generators.

The economies of scale of data collection at a regional level provides better value for money for tax payers. Collecting data on a regional scale also recognizes that residents travel across municipalities and electoral area boundaries which requires regional transportation data to inform local origin and destination studies.

All information provided will be strictly confidential and will not be shared with any other individual or organization, in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The identity of individuals will not be revealed to anyone.