MAGIC Transit Survey Results

July 2012 MAGIC Transit Survey Results Town of Hudson Metropolitan Area Planning Council MAPC.org

Introduction During the spring of 2012, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) conducted a transit study on behalf of the thirteen Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) towns. MAGIC is a subregion of the 101 cities and towns that make up the MAPC region. The following survey responses were recorded through an online Survey Monkey survey and collected in written format on paper surveys which were returned to the town of Hudson. Overall, 249 people responded to the town-wide survey. Question 1: Are you a Hudson resident or do you work in Hudson? (Check all that apply) 247 people responded to this question. Question 2: What is your home address or nearest intersection? (Optional) 177 people responded to this question, results not shown here. Question 3: Do you presently use public transportation for any of the following purposes? (Check all that apply) 79 people responded to this question. Other Answers Times Mentioned Commute to Work 16 Volunteer Work 1 Airport 1 Trips to Boston 3 Trips to Cambridge 1 Education 1

Question 4: Which types of transportation services do you use? (Check all that apply) 109 people responded to this question. Question 5: Question 5: If you do not use public transit for any of your travel needs, how much do the following affect your decision (1 = Very Much to 5 = Not At All) 196 people responded to this question.

Question 6: What would be the most convenient time for transit to be available in order for you to use it? (Check all that apply) 214 people responded to this question. Question 7: To what degree would the following improvements make you want to use public transit? (1=Very Much to 5=Not at All) 223 people responded to this question.

Question 8: If you currently work, where is your workplace located? 182 people responded to this question. Question 9: If you currently work, how do you get to work? (Check all that apply) 199 people responded to this question.

Question 10: Is a personal car available for you trip to work? 86 people responded to this question. Question 11: How do you get to public transit? (Check all that apply) 62 people responded to this question.

Question 12: How would you get to work if public transit was not available? 88 people responded to this question. Question 13: To improve public transit service for ALL users in Hudson, what new destination(s) would you like to see included on a bus/shuttle route(s)? (Check all that apply) 204 people responded to this question.

Question 14: How likely would you be to use local bus or shuttle service if it were improved? 232 people responded to this question. Question 15: Are you male or female? 239 people responded to this question.

Question 16: What is your age? 238 people responded to this question. Question 17: How many people live in your household? 235 people responded to this question.

Question 18: How many vehicles does your household have? 226 people responded to this question.

Written Answers to Questions with an Other Option: Question 7: To what degree would the following improvements make you want to use public transit service? I just would really like public transit in Hudson :) Public transit access to Worcester If there were transit service in my area We don't have train or bus service Local bus service Revive the Hudson-Boston Bus service More information about locations/availability work at home - doesn't matter much to me Traveling along 495, Hudson - Hopkinton Establish a public trans. In Hudson Any transit service I need either a bus to Riverside MBTA stop or South Acton commuter rail or some Worcester line commuter rail stop Question 9: If you currently work, how do you get to work? I travel frequently to meet people at their homes or other public places Taken by friend I drive another person from Hudson to our work each day Monday-drive to MBTA station in Newton and take D Line to Boston Drive and take MBTA Family MBTA Question 13: To improve public transit service for ALL users in Hudson, what new destination(s) would you like to see included on a bus/shuttle route(s)? I checked them all off because I really wouldn't be picky, I would just like to see some public transit instated in Hudson in general. Worcester Boston I would like to use it on my days off. We don't have train or bus service Destinations outside the Hudson-Marlborough area (Sudbury?) Local grocery stores Bus service to Boston Would love to see a commuter train to Boston from Hudson...rail trail would be lost. Leave for work before 6AM, Return after 7PM Boston. Business Parks along route 495 Restaurants Educational/ Social Boston Hudson Council on Aging HCOA Boston! Question 19: Are there things Hudson could do to improve public transportation? Get some in the first place. Sunshine Taxi doesn't really count in my opinion, Get some. If transportation is available to take in the evening to attend cultural events, movies, etc - make sure there is transportation late enough for a return trip home.

Bus service would be helpful. I have seen any public transit server from Hudson. So need more public transit services. Yes. Offer public transport from Hudson to downtown Marlboro and to the Southborough and/or Framingham train stations. Offer public transport from Berlin center to downtown Hudson. clearly marked routes, stops, schedules NO Public transportation for outside towns to Hudson. NONE. This will only bring in convenience for drug trafficking and crime...if they cannot get to our town by their own means and they have ability to transport drugs without being hassled by police then so BE IT!! NO Public Transportation. Sincerely, someone who lives with someone who lived in the heart of Boston and saw it all his life!! Have frequent, reliable service to Boston, MBTA stations and commuter rail stations. Get some local bus routes/stops for down town, grocery store/mall/etc. I feel there is a great need Marlboro has transportation and makes me mad we don t with all the people traveling to work and schools and hospitals it would be a big help to so many Hudson has seen a major growth in their senior population with the creation of the 55 Plus Condo Developments, thus creating a need for transportation for those who no longer drive or wish to drive. When I choose Hudson as a place to retire to I was not aware that the town had no means of public transportation. This would have affected my decision making process on the move. Public transportation in Hudson is a big problem that affects everyone not just seniors. Look at the revenue that the town in loosing on vacant store fronts on Main St. This cannot be helping out the businesses that are trying to make a go of it if they are surrounded by vacant real estate. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out. Hudson needs to move with the times or they will continue to be left out of the revenue process. Why do you think that Hudson is not inviting business into the town? Do you think it could be not having public access to these businesses? Personally I think that this is a disgrace. I have not see any business development downtown since moving here five years ago. A Public Transit System may just be the boost this wonderful Town of Hudson needs. I thank you for the privilege of expressing my views on this important issue. Increase number of MWRTA stops and advertise them. A bus to the T most importantly and then to nearby towns like Marlborough, Stow, Sudbury, Framingham, etc... Provide it Yes, get public transportation! Definitely need an early morning bus service on weekdays to and from Boston for people who work in the city OR early morning bus service to commuter train station. Right now we have now- so some would be an improvement. Would love a bus to Boston, especially on weekends. Absolutely!!!! How do you find out about public transportation Yes, because there is none. If there were better public transportation, I would drive less and have more work options, especially in Boston Reduce downtown traffic Provide some transportation to Weekend use of COA bus would help (church) Yes, even if it was just shuttles to a convenient locations on Washington street from the outlying neighborhoods. Stop building! I don t know that there is any now Publish routes, if there are any ensure that there would be no smoking at bus stop Yes, provide some I'm not aware of any public transportation in Hudson. If I know of some, at it stopped at convenient locations, I would use it. Also, there are references to a train station--what's the nearest train station? Framingham? Southborough? Concord? All I know of are very far away.

More local taxi services, later hours of service, public shuttles and/or buses parking lot & shuttle to Commuter rail/buses/worcester Bus service to Solomon Pond Mall, and nearby shopping centers (Stop & Shop, Hannaford s, Wal-Mart Supercenter). More nearby commuting options to travel into Boston. A Commuter Train shuttle service to South Acton and Southborough from a park and ride lot would greatly enhance ridership. Both stations are about 10 miles away. A rider fee equal to the parking fee at the station would be a good level to start off at. Buses (many) to Southborough, South Acton and Worcester commuter rail stations. Offer better way to get to and from Boston I do not think we even have public transportation. I would like to see cost effective transportation for the elderly and disabled in town for errands and doctors appointments. I would like Hudson to improve roads first and then add public transportation. I do not think we need public transportation more than the taxi's and livery services already in the town. Provide shuttle bus to Acton train station during popular Boston events. local events...not work related...like to malls, fairs, entertainment centers, etc. Affordable transportation to airport or to Logan Express at the least. Get some! Maybe start with shuttles to commuter rail stations and expand from that. If Hudson-Boston Bus service was revived, it would be wonderful (unfortunately it was closed because there were not enough users...) what public transportation Better parking at commuter train stations. Bus service to commuter train stations. Didn t even know we had public transportation in Hudson Make access to Boston and Worcester a little easier I didn't know there is any public transportation available in Hudson. I didn't even know that Hudson had public transportation and I've lived here for 5 years. There should be advertising so that people like me would know how it works, where it is, how much it costs, etc. A bus service would absolutely improve public transit. I also think it would be great if we brought trains back to Hudson, but I realize that would take considerable effort and money. Offer service to Logan or Amtrak train station We do not have public transportation that I know of. I have a disabled son who will not be able to drive and could benefit from public transportation Main St and parking buses that take folks to shopping malls and into Boston Train/bus stop to facilitate connecting to MBTA. Train/Bus stop to connect to other southern routes such as NYC. Answered above. I didn't know that there was public transportation. Living so far from the options available to "commute" to Boston, it would be nice to see a bus that ran from Hudson to one of the train stations that run to Boston. It could go to either Acton and run to North Station or to Southborough/Westborough and run to South Station. It would also be nice to see a bus service to Boston from Hudson. A dream would be to see the commuter train run from the center of Hudson! I could walk from my house to where the rail trail runs! Provide shuttle buses to commuter trains. Inter town bus routes I think offering a shuttle to the commuter rail would be wonderful. Is there really public transportation here, other than for school? Not sure Public transit would create options for people who can't/don't drive. Please be sure to consider the physically handicapped and the elderly when choosing routes and vehicles. A shuttle to the South Acton train station would be great. Participate in it. I don't know about any public transportation in Hudson. Yes

Honestly, don't really see a need. Participate in regional system Yes, some way to more easily access the train into Boston, via a train stop. Fear that public transportation will BRING IN more shady characters from the cities. Crime will increase as well as drug sales With a small community like Hudson, there is too much traffic now. Adding buses will add to the congestion. Maybe a shuttle bus located at one of the shopping plazas to take people to different commuter rail stations. I want my small town back as that is one reason I moved here with my family. Bus service Providing information in website We are too small of a town to warrant public transportation. Hudson is geographically challenged. If I, as a tax payer, have to pay an additional assessment for this to happen, I would vote against it. If it isn't sustainable by the users, then it would not get my vote. Busses like when i was a kid went to Framingham and Worcester from there you can go anywhere. a community bus with local stops in Hudson and Marlboro Shuttle service to Acton and or Southborough commuter rail stations Either shuttles to Boston or to a MBTA station or the airport Regular Shuttle Service to Commuter Stations. Regular local shuttle Services for Handicapped and elderly. Wasn t aware there is any There is no public transportation in Hudson now- I work at a mental health clinic in Marlboro and many of my clients have difficulty coming from Hudson because there is no transportation like there is in Marlboro - I think the lift bus should definitely come to Hudson!!! No train stations near us, not connected to the MWRTA, taxi service is crooked, no buses. Availability is key Bus depot downtown, rather than just a random stopping point for services. Covered shelters at bus stops. Online real time locator of buses, trains etc. to know when one is near/coming Have more Definitely would use public transportation Yes public trans. I think so. We comes for Hudson in 1975. The main description was that not public transport. And Hudson continue the same. Is time to organize this event-full. Have a bus/shuttle service with multiple, well-designated stops and include rides to local train stations - Acton, Lincoln, etc. Hourly service from 10 AM - 4 PM Monday through Saturday, affordable rate for seniors and stops at any shopping area, drug store, restaurant, in Hudson Make it available to connect to commuter rail to go to Boston and Worcester Have regular public trans. Hudson has public transportation? Improve the roads!!! Number of busses! More pickup stops They should allow younger disabled adults ride Shuttle service to bus/train Go to more towns needs more busses they never go down town not flexible at all Transit routes should also include the used by senior shuttle for people health and safety We do not need these services at this time but as we age further having better services in town and to Flair etc. would be more important Promote and provide more public transport Buy a bus, organize carpools, and organize van pools :) So there is none now, just putting in a trans. Route would be a positive; Hudson is too isolated from the larger cities, such as Boston, Marlborough, and Worcester. Thank you for considering

this much needed undertaking. A publicized, more frequent service Because there is no other option, now I have to drive into the city, but I would definitely use a bus if it took me to a train station or the city its self. I would not use it for work community, but would use it to go in for activities during the day and evenings on the weekend Provide affordable transportation for youth and old aged and for local businesses as downtown does not have good or enough parking Travel to Boston on train stations or connecting bus to Boston