(Spencer)– If you recently received a survey pertaining to transportation issues in northwest Iowa, you’re asked not to throw it away, but to take a few minutes to fill it out and return it.
Rose Lee of RIDES, the Spencer-based regional transit authority that serves a nine county area of northwest Iowa, says they have a lot riding on the outcome of that survey. She says the study helps them determine how they can better serve people in the region and to improve their planning.
Lee says the survey also plays a crucial role in determining how much funding RIDES receives.
This is the second time the sponsors have canvassed northwest Iowa to gauge public transit awareness, satisfaction and needs. The initial survey, released in January, 2003, found that more than 72 percent of those responding were aware of public transit services being available to them, however, only about eight percent actually used public transit during the prior year. Since then increased efforts have been made to educate the public on how to access the various services.
The survey’s sponsors plan to compare the results of both surveys to determine the level of progress that has been made. They’ll release their findings later this year.
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