Public input requested for regional commuter survey

Where people choose to live, work, and commute affects everything from economic opportunity to transportation investments and housing development. Lake Erie West Regional Council is inviting residents to share their experiences and perspectives through a new regional commuter survey that will help guide future planning and investment decisions across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

To encourage participation, survey respondents may enter a drawing to win a $100 gift card, with two winners selected in each county. Participation in the drawing is optional and not required to complete the survey.

The survey is being conducted in partnership with the Center for Regional Development (CRD) at Bowling Green State University as part of the “Building Access: Aligning Transportation, Housing, and Workforce Study,” a regional effort examining the connections between housing availability, job opportunities, and transportation systems. The study includes Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood counties in Ohio, as well as Monroe County, Michigan.

The survey is available online through the summer.

In addition to the survey, CRD and Lake Erie West staff will be attending several community events throughout the region.

Researchers are seeking input from residents to better understand why people choose to live in one community and work in another, what factors influence those decisions, and how transportation options support, or create barriers to, accessing employment and housing opportunities throughout the region.

“The choices residents make every day about where they live and how they get to work tell an important story about our region,” said Sandy Spang, executive director of Lake Erie West. “This survey will help us better understand those experiences and identify opportunities to improve connections between housing, transportation, and employment.”

Community feedback gathered through the survey, along with additional outreach efforts, will be analyzed by CRD and incorporated into a report that will help inform future transportation, housing, workforce, and economic development planning across the region.

The survey takes approximately 11 minutes to complete and is open to individuals 18 years of age or older. Participation is completely voluntary. Respondents will not be contacted as a result of completing the survey unless they choose to provide contact information for the gift card drawing at the end of the survey.

Contact:
Marissa Bechstein
Program Manager, Regional Development
Lake Erie West Regional Council
bechstein@lakeeriewest.org
419-820-4506