Ferry Customer Survey
The only way to take the survey is to be on-board one of the ferries that will be included in the survey sample. The reason for this follows: A primary objective of the ferry survey is to obtain a representative sample of ferry customers across the system. To accomplish this objective, a random sample of trips was drawn within each of the ferry routes. All passengers on-board each of these sampled trips will be asked to complete the survey. To ensure that we can reliably project the survey data to the general population of ferry customers, only those customers on a sampled trip are being asked to complete the survey.
The Commission has selected Opinion Research Northwest to conduct the ferry user survey. Information about the survey can also be accessed on their Web site by clicking on the "2007 Washington State Ferries" link located under "Current Studies" on their Web site.
The overall purpose and desired outcome of the ferry customer survey can be viewed via the link below:
Statement of Survey Purpose and Desired Outcome (pdf 40 kb)
Please check back periodically as more information and details will continue to be posted on the survey work plan and schedule as it is finalized with the consultant in the coming weeks.
Ferry Customer Survey Information
The presentation below was given to the Commission at their May 21, 2008 meeting in Olympia. It provides a system-wide overview of the preliminary findings of the first wave of on-board surveying that took place in March 2008.
Preliminary Findings of March Survey (pdf 1.1 mb)
Below is an update on the survey effort as of early May. A listing of key tasks to be completed is also provided.
May ferry survey update
For a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers related to the survey, please refer to the link below. This FAQ will be periodically updated as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (pdf 33 kb)
This presentation was given to the Commission at their January 22, 2008 meeting in Olympia. This report outlines the findings of the qualitative research portion of the ferry user survey effort. This portion of the research was comprised of nine focus groups held throughout the ferry system and was designed to inform the development of the on-board survey questionnaire.
Findings of Focus Group Effort (pdf 235 kb)
The link below will take you to a narrated report of the final focus group findings.
Focus Group Video (wmv)
The following is the full, final report on the focus group portion of this research project. This report provides an overview of the process and presents the findings of this effort.
Focus Group Summary Report (pdf 359 kb)
The following presentation was given to the Commission at their meeting on November 13, 2007 by the consultant doing the survey work, Opinion Research Northwest. The presentation served as the official kickoff of the survey effort that is now underway. In this presentation, you will find information about the survey's overall purpose and desired outcome, the survey work plan and project timeline, and an overview of the process that will be followed in completing both the qualitative and quantitative work to be performed over the next year.
Ferry Customer Survey Kickoff Presentation (pdf 295 kb)
In the 2007 session, the
Legislature provided the
Commission with funding
and a mandate to conduct
a survey of ferry customers
per the following statutory
provisions contained in
ESHB
2358 (pdf 77 kb):
Section 4
- The
commission shall, with
the involvement of the
department, conduct a survey
to gather data
on ferry users to help
inform level of
service, operational, pricing,
planning, and
investment decisions. The
survey must include, but
is not limited
to:
- Recreational
use;
- Walk-on customer
use;
- Vehicle customer
use;
- Freight and goods
movement demand;
and
- Reactions
to potential
operational strategies
and pricing policies
described under section
7 of this act and RCW
47.60.290.
- The
commission shall develop
the survey after providing
an opportunity for
ferry advisory committees
to offer input.
- The survey
must be updated
at least every two years
and maintained to
support the development
and implementation of
adaptive management of
ferry services.
Ferry
Customer Survey Commission
Team
To
ensure the Commission is
able to focus and remain
fully engaged throughout
the course of this effort,
the Commission appointed
three of its members to
serve on a team that is
responsible for overseeing
the detailed implementation
of this survey. The members
of this Commission Team
are as follows:
- Bob Distler,
Team Lead
- Dan O'Neal
- Elmira Forner
Ferry
Customer Survey Advisory
Team
To ensure the survey fully
addresses the needs and
expectations of its major
audiences, an advisory
team has been created by
the Commission which is
made up of representatives
from key governmental agencies
and stakeholders who will
use the data derived from
the survey in carrying
out their respective responsibilities
related to Washington State
Ferries. The Role of the
advisory team will be to
prepare the scope of work
for the RFP, participate
in the consultant interviews
and selection process,
conduct and participate
in periodic review meetings
with the consultant, and
review the results, analysis,
and interpretation of the
survey data.
The members of
the Advisory Team are
as follows (for details,
refer to the implementation
plan below):
- Members of the Commission’s
Ferry Customer Survey
Team (listed above)
- Staff
member from the Governor’s
Office
- Staff members
from each of the Transportation
Committees (House and
Senate)
- Representatives
from the Joint Transportation
Committee
- Representative
from the Ferry Advisory
Executive Council
- WSF/
WSDOT staff
- Commission
staff
- One person with
survey/ marketing experience
Ferry
Customer Survey Implementation
Plan
This implementation
plan (pdf 25 kb)
was approved by the
Commission. It reflects
the sequence of key
steps that will be
taken as part of the
survey effort.
Minutes from September 28th Special Commission meeting via conference call (pdf 31 kb)
Ferry Customer Survey RFP Documents
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