During our recent webinar we learned about ATP’s in-house research partner, Mobility Lab, and the complimentary services they offer to ATP clients. We focused on density plot maps and surveys, why they are useful, and what the process for each entails. We also heard from a client guest speaker, Stacy Foster, Vice President of Workplace Experience at Mastercard, about their experience having a density plot map made, and why they continue to use the service year after year.
Benefits of Commuter Maps
There are many benefits to having a density plot map created for your office or commercial space, such as helping to visualize employee density. Therefore, it is possible to identify gaps in flexible workplace policies, benefits, and amenities, and explain current usage rates. Density Plot Map data can explain why a benefit or amenity is going unused if commuters live too close or too far to take advantage of it, helping to inform future policy, benefits, and amenity decisions if you are reconsidering what is offered or thinking of adding something new.
Working with ATP and Mobility Lab makes the process easy, and we offer expert advice and recommendations based on the results to help you better serve commuters. To begin, you will want to start by compiling a list of zip codes of employees that commute to your property or office. If you do not have access to employee zip codes, we can assist with collecting that information through anonymous surveying. ATP and Mobility Lab will take care of the rest by creating a map based on the zip code data provided and developing a presentation to outline patterns and potential next steps for the employer or property management to consider.
Value of Surveying Commuters
Conducting a survey is a fantastic way to understand commuting patterns at your residential community, office, or commercial building. By delving deeper, surveys provide decision makers with valuable data to inform your next steps before altering policies, benefits, and amenities. Information such as which days commuters are heading into the office and what modes they use to travel can provide insight into trends and preferences.
Like density plot maps, ATP and Mobility Lab make developing and launching surveys simple. We can work with you to completely customize the survey, so the questions reflect what you would really like to learn from commuters. Surveys can be as comprehensive as you would like, although they usually only take a few minutes for respondents to complete. Once created and approved, surveys are distributed with an online link, and your ATP representative can provide you with tailored language when you launch and for periodic reminders.
A great way to encourage responses is to host an event with ATP on-site. Your ATP rep can bring relevant transportation resources, swag, and be a resource to promote the survey and help answer questions respondents may have.
Client Spotlight: Mastercard
Stacy Foster, VP of Workplace Experience at Mastercard, shared with attendees their motivation to conduct a density plot map with ATP and Mobility Lab began when employees were able to return to the office following the pandemic. Prioritizing privacy, they took a few weeks to collect zip codes, ensuring no additional identifying information was linked to employees commuting to the Arlington office; this was used as an input for ATP and Mobility Lab to finalize the plot map. Consequently, they introduced hybrid events to educate employees on carpooling and vanpooling options. Additionally, an internal spreadsheet was established to facilitate connections among employees interested in forming or expanding carpools. Mastercard, with the help of ATP and Mobility Lab, continues to assess employee needs by updating the density plot map annually.
Champions Credit
In addition to the many reasons to have a density plot map made, conduct a survey, or both–members of ATP’s free recognition program, Champions, have the added benefit of earning credit. Providing ATP with zip code data to have a plot map created can earn your organization or commercial space credit in the silver level. For any residential communities, commercial properties, or employers interested in surveying, as a Champion you are eligible for credit at the gold level. To go a step further, commercial and residential Champions qualify for platinum credit if a new program or benefit is started as a result of a survey. Whether you are considering trying a density plot map or survey for the first time or would like to work with us to conduct them on a regular basis, they are an effective way to learn about your staff, tenants, and residents, and level up in the Champions program.
Get Started Today
Any ATP client can utilize and find benefits in the services offered by Mobility Lab. Contact your ATP representative to get the ball rolling and level up in Champions. If you still want to learn more, you can watch the recording of the webinar and reach out to your ATP rep once you have all the information. We are excited to assist you!
Photo Credit: Sam Kittner/kittner.com for Arlington Transportation Partners