Downtown Houston's access to transportation in Houston is second to none.  Improved access and mobility, however, continues to be a major goal of Central Houston including the planning, design and development of an effective, attractive expanded public mass transit system, working with the city of Houston, METRO and TxDOT. 

Commute Survey of Employees

In March 2009, Central Houston conducted a survey of downtown workers, asking how they get to work, what time they leave, how long it takes, how many stops they make during their commute and why, and much more.  Out of an estimated 140,000 downtown employees, more than 13,000 responded.  The goal was to identify current commute mode split and other information, and use that to identify ways to further improve employee access to downtown.  Of respondents, only 48% regularly drive to work alone.   29% use Park & Ride; 8% take a local bus, light rail or both; 11% carpool; 1.5% vanpool, 1% walk, and 1.5% other.  The report and appendices are available here in PDF format.

• Downtown Houston Commute Survey Report
• Appendix 1 (survey instruments; discussion of survey sample; discussion of the economy at the time of the survey; and studies reviewed in conjunction with the analysis)
• Appendices Part 2: Maps (print in color on 11x17"/ledger size)
  • Appendix 2a - Home ZIPs from survey, all respondents (density and count)
  • Appendix 2b - Home ZIPs from survey, drive-alone respondents (density and count)
  • Appendix 2c - Home ZIPs from survey, Park and Ride respondents (density and count)
  • Appendix 2d - Home ZIPs from survey, local bus/rail/bus & rail respondents (density and count)
  • Appendix 2e - Home ZIPs from survey, carpool respondents (density and count)
  • Appendix 2f - Home ZIPs of downtown workers from US Census
  • Appendix 2g - Houston-area resident distribution, 2009 and 2025 (est)
  • Appendix 2h - Downtown Above & Below

Survey of Transit and Parking Subsidies Offered by Employers

The Commute Survey asked employees what they thought their employer offered as transportation or parking subsidies.  Separately, Central Houston has asked employers what incentives they do offer their employees for transit and/or parking.  Companies' answers vary widely.  Here are the most current subsidy examples.

Access

Central Houston serves as a Transportation Management Organization (TMO), assisting employers and employees with access, parking, and public transit issues.   The TMO strongly encourages employers to provide some level of transit subsidy to their employees, as it has been found that even a small subsidy will encourage many to utilize transit, to a much greater degree than in any other Houston submarket.  In recognition of downtown's commute advantages, downtown Houston has been designated by the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the EPA as a Best Workplaces for Commuters District.  Find out more about the Best Workplaces for Commuters on the BWC website.

CHI Transportation Committee Portal