Travel surveys provide information on behavior characteristics that are essential for the development of travel demand models and in the transportation planning process. The surveys are used to gather information suitable for gaining an in-depth understanding of travel behavior in the region, including individuals within households and regional establishments, their travel activities, demographics and other factors that affect travel in the New York metropolitan area. Travel survey activity also takes place nationally.
Generally, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) has utilized a decennially deployed Regional Household Travel Survey (RHTS) for use in the development of its New York Best Practices Model (NYBPM), an activity-based travel demand model. This process is rather costly to deploy and process. In preparation of its next RHTS, NYMTC is researching and evaluating opportunities to enhance and supplement the RHTS.