The 2000 Census provides an enormous amount of information about the San Diego region’s residents. The U.S. Census Bureau releases various types of datasets from the decennial census. The most commonly used Summary Files base their information on where people live. The Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) is unique because it focuses on where people live and where they work. More importantly, it tracks the flow of workers from their home to their place of work.  From this data, SANDAG is able to study commuting trends, as outlined in its latest INFO publication.

Analysis indicates that a variety of methods are used to get to work by the region’s commuters. While almost three out of four workers drive to work alone, about 21 percent use an alternative mode such as carpooling (13%), transit (3%), or “other,” including walking or cycling (5%). About five percent work at home. While the overall percentage commuters using transit is three percent, it should be noted that this includes workers in areas not served (or well-served) by transit. Transit use by commuters is much higher in areas where transit is readily available.

Only four percent of all the workers living or working in the region have no vehicle available. A large percentage of those without a vehicle rely on transit to get to work. Almost one out of four workers (23%) who have no vehicle rides transit to get to work. Fifteen percent use other means to get to work, such as walking, bicycling, taking a taxicab, or riding a motorcycle.

The household income of workers varies by the type of transportation used to get to work. Transit riders have the greatest percentage of workers (36%) with a household income less than $30,000. Likewise, that group has the smallest percentage (20%) of households with incomes greater than $75,000 a year. As might be expected, workers who drive alone comprise the greatest proportion of those with a household income over $75,000 (40%).

Project Manager:
Karen Lamphere
619-699-6955