University of Pittsburgh
OP-16: Commute Modal Split

In Fall 2022, the University of Pittsburgh ran a 2022 Commuter Survey that received 6,284 University affiliate responses across all categories (Staff, Faculty, Graduate / Professional Students, Research Associates / Post-Doctoral Fellows, Undergraduate Students, Vendors / Contractors, Temporary Employees). All respondents indicated their primary (secondary, and tertiary) mode(s) of travel to and from campus.

Given commuting changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fall 2022 Pitt Commuter Survey results were also contextualized with prior commuter survey responses, including those from the 2015 and 2018 Make My Trip Count (MMTC) regional commuter survey, in which the University of Pittsburgh was a strong partner. For context, 2,566 Pitt community members responded to the MMTC 2018 survey (of 18,104 total regional responses) destined for the Pittsburgh campus. Learn more about MMTC: https://www.makemytripcount.org/

Though the Fall 2022 Commuter Survey is not the only commuter survey data the University uses to estimate and engage with commuters, it is the data reported here because it is a standalone representative sample.

In Fall 2022, the University of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh campus had 29,238 undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate or professional practice students attending the University of Pittsburgh. Thus, the 1,941 Pitt students responding to the 2022 Commuter Survey mode split question represented 6.6% of enrolled students. This sample size provides us a 99% confidence level** and a 2.83% margin of error***.

According to Pitt’s 2022 Commuter Survey responses, the mode split for the University of Pittsburgh main campus for students was as follows:

• Single Occupancy Vehicle = 17.1% (Drive alone & Uber / Lyft / Taxi)
• Zero Emissions Vehicle – n/a
• Walking & Bicycling = 40.3%
• Shared Passenger Vehicle = 3.4% (Carpool, Vanpool, & Dropped Off or Picked Up)
• Transit & Shuttle = 37.9% (includes Bus, Light Rail, Incline, & Shuttle)
• Motorcycle & Micromobility = (includes Scooter & Wheelchair) = 1.2%
• Remote Work = 0%

Other University commuter data (Pittsburgh Regional Transit trips, parking permit records, student housing availability, POGOH bike share utilization, etc.) have NOT been included in the data reported here because these are from a single source. That data IS utilized for calculating our annual GHG inventory, as is the Commuter Survey.

The University of Pittsburgh’s full 2022 Commuter Survey results are here: https://www.pts.pitt.edu/university-pittsburgh-2022-commuter-survey

University of Pittsburgh Fact Book for Population Reference: https://www.ir.pitt.edu/student-information

Confidence level and margin of error were calculated using SurveyMonkey's Sample Size Calculator: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/sample-size-calculator
* Confidence Level: The probability our survey sample accurately reflects the behaviors of the entire population.
** Margin of Error: The range (measured as a percentage) that the total population's behaviors might deviate from our sample responses.

In Fall 2022, the University of Pittsburgh ran a 2022 Commuter Survey that received 6,284 University affiliate responses across all categories (Staff, Faculty, Graduate / Professional Students, Research Associates / Post-Doctoral Fellows, Undergraduate Students, Vendors / Contractors, Temporary Employees). All respondents indicated their primary (secondary, and tertiary) mode(s) of travel to and from campus.

Given commuting changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fall 2022 Pitt Commuter Survey results were also contextualized with prior commuter survey responses, including those from the 2015 and 2018 Make My Trip Count (MMTC) regional commuter survey, in which the University of Pittsburgh was a strong partner. For context, 2,566 Pitt community members responded to the MMTC 2018 survey (of 18,104 total regional responses) destined for the Pittsburgh campus. Learn more about MMTC: https://www.makemytripcount.org/

Though the Fall 2022 Commuter Survey is not the only commuter survey data the University uses to estimate and engage with commuters, it is the data reported here because it is a standalone representative sample.

In Fall 2022, the University of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh campus had 13,967 full- and part-time faculty, staff, and research and post-doctoral associates. Thus, the 3,717 Pitt employees responding to the mode split question of the 2022 Commuter Survey represented 26.6% of all employees. This sample size provides us a 99% confidence level** and a 1.82% margin of error***.

According to Pitt’s 2022 Commuter Survey responses, the mode split for the University of Pittsburgh main campus for employees was as follows:

• Single Occupancy Vehicle = 48.7% (Drive alone & Uber / Lyft / Taxi)
• Zero Emissions Vehicle – N/A
• Walking & Bicycling = 7.6%
• Shared Passenger Vehicle = 6.0% (Carpool, Vanpool, & Dropped Off or Picked Up)
• Transit & Shuttle = 18.2% (includes Bus, Light Rail, Incline, & Shuttle)
• Motorcycle & Micromobility = (includes Scooter & Wheelchair) = 0.4%
• Remote Work = 19.1%

The 2022 Pitt Commuter Survey indicates that avoided commutes due to working from home is MUCH larger than previous surveys (19.1% vs. 1.7% in 2018). Transit ridership is much lower than prior surveys; the SOV commuter split is slightly higher than past surveys.

Other University commuter data (Pittsburgh Regional Transit trips, parking permit records, student housing availability, POGOH bike share utilization, etc.) have NOT been included in the data reported here because these are from a single source. That data IS utilized for calculating our annual GHG inventory, as is the Commuter Survey.

The University of Pittsburgh’s full 2022 Commuter Survey results are here: https://www.pts.pitt.edu/university-pittsburgh-2022-commuter-survey

The University’s Fact Book information for Fall 2022 employee headcount is here: https://www.ir.pitt.edu/interactive-fact-book/faculty-and-staff-information

Confidence level and margin of error were calculated using SurveyMonkey's Sample Size Calculator: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/sample-size-calculator
* Confidence Level: The probability our survey sample accurately reflects the behaviors of the entire population.
** Margin of Error: The range (measured as a percentage) that the total population's behaviors might deviate from our sample responses.

Student and Employee facing commuting information: https://www.pts.pitt.edu/mobility

Fall 2022 Pitt Commuter Survey Results: https://www.pts.pitt.edu/university-pittsburgh-2022-commuter-survey

Details about Pitt's bike share partnership with local nonprofit POGOH (Students, faculty, and staff enjoy unlimited 30-minute rides via pedal and electric bike at no cost to them): https://www.pts.pitt.edu/mobility/pogoh

PAST PITT COMMUTER DATA
o 2015 & 2018 Make My Trip Count Pittsburgh Region Commuter Survey (in which Pitt participated): https://www.makemytripcount.org/
o An additional source of Pitt commuting data is the 2021 Institutional Master Plan online here (Mobility is addressed in Chapter 6 and uses the 2017 VHB Housing & Transportation Survey results, p. 308): https://www.campusplan.pitt.edu/imp

University of Pittsburgh Fact Book for Fall 2022 Population References: https://www.ir.pitt.edu/university-information/interactive-fact-book