Vol. 1, No. 2
December 2001

Contents

A Word from the Editors

Home For the Holidays: 40 Million Passengers Expected This Holiday Season

Panel Considers Alternatives to Amtrak's Monopoly

2001 Polling on Transportation

Omnibus Household Survey Program

About M. Davis and Company

A Word from the Editors

Today's environment requires both public and private sector executives to make significant decisions in a timely manner, using the best market research information available. Decision makers must have high returns on the information provided. It is our aim at M. Davis and Company, Inc. to provide transportation industry executives a product - high return on information (ROInfo™) - that most effectively identifies challenges facing their organizations and the best solutions to those challenges.

ROInfo™, through the use of a range of research methods and techniques, program designs and monitoring tools, provides clients with critical information in real time. This timely presentation of critical performance information improves executive decision making and organizational performance.

We hope to use this newsletter to highlight for transportation industry executives some of the current research, key findings, initiatives and best practices in the industry. We welcome your comments.

Home For the Holidays: 40 Million Passengers Expected This Holiday Season

Nearly 40 million airline passengers are expected to travel by air in the three weeks surrounding the winter holidays, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year, according to the Air Transport Association (ATA). U.S. Airlines are ready for the busy holiday travel season, which began December 14.

Americans, in increasing numbers, are returning to the skies, traveling home for the holidays to be with family and friends. "As our nation shares in the spirit of the holiday season, passengers can have full confidence that air travel remains the worlds safest form of transportation," said ATA President Carol Hallet. "The airlines will continue to use all available resources to help ensure the safety and security of the air transportation system."

Although overall passenger traffic has been down 20 percent recently, the airlines are expecting over 2 million passengers on several peak days during the winter holiday season. Approximately 1.8 million passengers per day are expected to travel on U.S. airlines during the three-week holiday period; the first 2-million-plus days are expected to be December 20, 21 and 22. December 22 is expected to have the highest load factor during the three-week period, with approximately 85 percent of seats filled; in 2000 the load factor was 84 percent.

Link to full article: www.airlines.org/public/news/display2.asp?nid=4900

Washington (AP) - A panel reviewing America's passenger rail system is considering shifting much of Amtrak's duties to states and private companies, effectively ending a three-decade monopoly of intercity train service.

The congressionally mandated Amtrak Reform Council has drafted nine alternatives designed to decentralize intercity passenger rail, which for 30 years has been run by Amtrak. The alternatives were drawn up by the Council's staff based on ideas from the 11 panel members.

Under the least drastic options considered on December 14, 2001, Amtrak would continue to operate passenger trains but could face stiff competition from private companies or regional authorities.

Link to full article: www.cnn.com/2001/TRAVEL/NEWS/12/14/amtrak.future.ap/index.html

2001 Polling on Transportation

The selected polling data below is grouped by respective polling organization.

Link to above poll results: www.nationaljournal.com/members/polltrack/2001/issues/01transportation.htm

Omnibus Household Survey Program

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics -- the Federal statistical agency for the Department of Transportation charged with improving the knowledge base for public decision making -- coordinates the Omnibus Survey Program. The survey is a DOT-wide effort to collect information about the transportation system, how it is used, and how it is viewed by the users.

BTS gathers data every month on a random basis from 1,000 households across the country to determine the general public's satisfaction with the nation's transportation system and help prioritize improvements to the system. Each month the survey contains a core set of questions about transportation system use and levels of satisfaction with the Department of Transportation (DOT), thus allowing for the identification of monthly trends. Each month the survey also contains questions poised by various operating administrations within the Department as well as the survey asks questions relating to one of DOT's goals.

Link to report on the most recent Household Survey of the Omnibus Survey Program: http://www.bts.gov/omnibus/

ABOUT M. DAVIS AND COMPANY

M. Davis and Company, Inc., is a market research and consulting firm that provides complete services from project conception through implementation. We aim to ensure that our clients receive a high return on information (ROInfo™) by employing our unique perspective and market insights. We help clients make the most of their opportunities and implement solutions based on the information we provide.

M. Davis and Company, Inc. was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to administer the Omnibus Household Survey. This multi-year engagement involves the monthly administration of over 1,000 telephone surveys to randomly selected households to gather information regarding commuting habits and awareness of various Federal safety initiatives.

In addition to the U.S. Department of Transportation, other engagements include:

• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)/ Northeast Airport (PNE)
  
  • Identified and explored perceptions concerning B/C Terminal development.
  • Determined the satisfaction factors critical to evaluation of a new Fixed Based Operator (FBO) by general aviation clients.
    
    
• Conrail
  • Assessed client satisfaction with a new customer service center for Conrail.
    
    
• Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA)
  • Conducted first ever ridership survey for the DRBA.
  • Designed strategic plan which successfully increased ridership revenue.
    
    
• South Carolina Highway and Safety Department
  • Developed and implemented a public information and education campaign on pedestrian safety, which resulted in an increase in the awareness and utilization of pedestrian safety practices.
    
    
• Federal Transit Administration
  • Conducted study to develop a customer-oriented transit monitoring system designed to measure performance from the customer perspective as well as analysis of the performance and benefits.

To learn more above the services and capabilities of M. Davis and Company, Inc., visit our web site at www.mdavisco.com or call 215-790-8900 to speak with one of our market research professionals.

If you do not want to receive this newsletter or can suggest other transportation professionals who might be interested in receiving future editions, please let us know at info@mdavisco.com.