Project Studies

The following are descriptions of selected studies which represent a small sample of the types of projects that CIC Research undertakes.  The firm's major areas of professional competence include regional economics, land economics, market potential analysis, sales forecasting, scientific and opinion surveying.   Summaries are periodically updated.


Transportation Research


I-15 Congestion Pricing Project

Client -- Wilbur Smith Associates

Work Content --CIC’s project team was responsible for assisting in the development of a market research program and a profile of existing and potential users of the I-15 Express Lanes. CIC had primary responsibility over all market research activities needed to support the congestion pricing analysis. These activities included both qualitative and quantitative elements: focus groups, telephone surveys, and field surveys. CIC designed the methodology needed for statistically sampling four user groups: Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV), vanpools, and transit. CIC defined a sampling frame for each mode to be surveyed. These sampling frames were constructed around both primary user-markets derived specifically for this project.

The qualitative elements included focus groups. These focus groups were comprised of SOV individuals who commute along the I-15 corridor. One of the groups consisted of commuters who expressed an interest in having access to the HOV lanes during their commute. Discussions in each of the groups were directed towards attitudes about the commute, the proposed project, price sensitivity, and operational methods associated with the collection of funds.

The quantitative research element developed estimates of consumer attitudes, opinions and preferences concerning congestion pricing as it relates to transportation in the I-15 corridor. Two survey efforts were undertaken. A telephone survey of 400 randomly selected households was conducted. All participants were required to reside within the primary market area and to fulfill specific travel requirements. The second component to the quantitative research involved face-to-face interviews with qualified participants. Surveys were conducted at various transit centers/bus stops located in Escondido and Rancho Penasquitos as well as park-and-ride locations in Escondido and Poway. All participants were required to fulfill specific travel requirements.

A database containing the results from each of the surveys was then prepared and CIC provided a statistical analysis of the survey data. In addition, CIC prepared a summary of the study findings.

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Metropolitan Transit Development Board Travel Pattern

Client -- Metropolitan Transit Development Board

Work Content --CIC conducted two phases of a travel behavior and additudinal study for MTDB as a sub-contractor to Cambridge Systematics. Phase one was a telephone-mail survey of North San Diego County residents. Using a random-digit-dialing sample frame, CIC surveyed and recruited households to participate in a mail survey of transportation attitudes and behavior.

In the second phase, CIC interviewed people near the U.S.-Mexican border. After a 1-page questionnaire was completed by the interviewer on each respondent, they were given an additional multi-page questionnaire which they could complete and mail back. All questionnaire responses were coded and tabulated for computer processing.

The questionnaires for both phases were designed to gather detailed information about traveler socioeconomic characteristics, travelers' attitutdes towards every day travel, their preferences towards different types of transit service, their current and mode choice behavior, and their tradeoffs among a range of transit and highway service attributes.

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MTDB Rider Pilot Study

Client -- Metropolitan Transit Development Board

Work Content --This 3-year customer satisfaction study entailed receiving self-administered customer comment cards from MTDB on a continuous basis and processing them monthly. Monthly reports as well as annual reports were provided to MTDB.

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Omnitrans ACCESS Market Study

Client -- Omnitrans

Work Content --CIC conducted a study on the attitudes of mentally and physically disabled passengers who ride the Omnitrans access bus. Telephone surveys were conducted with ACCESS users to determine their attitudes towards the ACCESS program, as well as toward the regular Omnitrans bus service. At the completion of interviewing, a detailed analysis in the form of a written report was provided to Omnitrans.

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Public Opinion Survey Concerning the San Diego Coronado Bridge

Client -- San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

Work Content --The objective of this study was to provide SANDAG with input concerning the opinions of San Diego County residents with respect to the San Diego Coronado Bridge tolls. SANDAG wished to use this information in implementing an updated toll rate structure for the bridge. Approximately 1,800 telephone surveys were completed on households in San Diego County. Sample points were drawn using CIC’s random-digit-dialing program. The county was divided by SANDAG into five geographic sub-areas, with a minimum number of surveys completed within each sub-area. ZIP codes were used to screen respondents for sub-area classification. Completed surveys were weighted to make allowance for the number of occupied housing units within each area. CIC provided the client with a formal written analysis of the study findings. In addition, an oral presentation, including graphics was given during a meeting arranged by SANDAG.

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Taxi Passenger Survey

Client -- San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

Work Content --SANDAG contracted with CIC to study transportation patterns and perceptions of taxicab passengers in the San Diego area. CIC employees rode in the taxicabs and conducted face-to-face interviews with the passengers. During the ride, employees also recorded information on distance and rates. Interviews were conducted with 1,200 passengers, and were stratified by visitor, resident, and airport riders.

After data collection was completed, the survey was weighted to represent all taxi trips. The survey forms were entered into the database using SPSS entry software with range and skip pattern checking, and analyzed in SAS. A full report of findings was presented to SANDAG and to the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB).

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Telephone Survey of Commuters in the Bay Area

Client -- RIDES for Bay Area Commuters

Work Content --In an on-going effort to gain an understanding of various commuting issues in the Bay Area, RIDES for Bay Area Commuters, Inc. contracted CIC Research, Inc. to conduct a random telephone survey. CIC was responsible for generating a list of random residential telephone numbers and for conducting telephone interviews with commuters residing in the nine-county Bay area. Residents were surveyed on issues ranging from details about how they commute, factors in commute choice, attitudes about commuting and awareness of commuting options. Surveys were conducted on CIC's CATI system and were automatically edited and coded. Upon completion of the surveys, CIC was responsible for providing RIDES with the completed database on Bay Area residents’ commuting characteristics.

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Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) National Membership Survey

Client -- Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS)

Work Content --CIC Research organized and implemented the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) National Membership Survey over two separate years. In 1998, CIC increased the goal to a 50 percent response rate in comparison to prior surveys where the number of returns had been 30 percent or lower. In addition to this goal, CIC also made recommendations to the WTS National Board to update the survey and improve the methodology. The membership was given the opportunity to respond online to a questionnaire designed by CIC and stored on CIC's web server. During the survey period, members were reminded to fill out the questionnaire. Those not responding were sent an e-mail from CIC containing an embedded web link to the Internet survey site. The members responded well to the opportunity to choose their return method for the questionnaire - either by fax, mail, or electronically. For the second survey, CIC continued improvements started during the previous survey period. CIC processed the survey results using SPSS and developed an overall membership profile report, as well as individual chapter summaries. The findings were then presented to the National Board and Chapter Presidents at the WTS National Conference in Minneapolis, MN.

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