Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) recently completed a commuting behavior analysis for the 30-town region. The analysis looked at travel patterns using data from the Longitudinal Employment Household Dynamics (LEHD) data and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Key findings of how people commute to work include:
· Number of people living in the region that are employed elsewhere: before 2006, around 10,000 people commuted elsewhere, but after 2006, that number increased to 15,000.
· Commuting distances have increased from 25 miles to 50 miles; over 20 percent of residents now travel more than 50 miles to work - at least an hour commute each way.
· Percent of commuters traveling greater than 50 miles have nearly doubled in 10 years from 13% to 21%.
· 75% of residents drove alone to work, 11% carpooled, 8% worked from home/telecommuted, while 7% walked/biked/or used public transit.
· Top 5 Towns with the longest commutes: Topsham, Tunbridge, Vershire, Corinth and Chelsea. Hartford, Woodstock, Norwich, Hartland, and Bridgewater have the shortest commutes. The top 10 commuting destinations for work:
More people are spending more time driving farther to reach their employment than in years past. Longer commutes translate into more costs: in gas; in wear and tear on vehicles and roadway infrastructure; time spent away from family, friends and leisure activities; and additional greenhouse gas emissions. People are living farther away from where they work ‘ why? Is it a personal choice? Is it a matter of affordable housing? Is it a matter of housing availability?
Understanding why people are commuting more is important and should guide the Region as we plan for the future.
TRORC received a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant which is being used to plan for the Region’s future over the next 10 and 20 years. The East Central Vermont: What We Want plan is an ambitious, locally-led vision for the future of 40 towns across the East Central Vermont region and promotes the following Livability Principles developed by the interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities (HUD, EPA, DOT):
Provide more transportation choices;
Promote equitable, affordable housing;
Enhance economic competitiveness;
Support existing communities;
Coordinate policies and leverage investment; and
Value communities and neighborhoods.
To view the full Travel Trends Report, visit website at:
http://www.trorc.org/pdf/Transportation/TRORC%20Travel%20Trends%202013.pdf
Source: Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission 9.9.2013. TRORC is an association of 30 municipalities in east-central Vermont. TRORC is governed by a Board of Representatives appointed by each of our member towns; it is based in Woodstock.