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10.0 INTERVIEWS WITH COMMERCIAL FLEET SERVICES/OPERATORS, TRANSPORTATION-SENSITIVE BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS BUSINESS COMMUNITY

10.1 Purpose and Approach

Conducting interviews with commercial fleet services/operators, representatives of transportation-sensitive businesses, and the downtown Minneapolis business community is recommended to gain insight into the influence of the HOT lanes, PDSL, MARQ2 bus lanes, and other UPA projects on the movement of goods, the provision of services, and businesses in the I-35W corridor and downtown Minneapolis. Currently, no funding has been identified to conduct these interviews. They are included in the final test plan in case funding is found to conduct the interviews, as the information obtained will be of value in assessing the influence of the UPA projects on commercial fleet service, transportation-sensitive businesses, and downtown Minneapolis businesses.

As noted previously, small two-axle trucks weighing less than 26,000 pounds will be allowed to use the I-35W MnPASS toll lanes with a valid transponder. These interviews will focus on commercial fleet services/operators not meeting these guidelines to obtain information on the impact of the UPA projects on travel times and trip-time reliability for trucks operating on the I-35W. Transportation-sensitive businesses are defined to include companies relying on the delivery or pick of goods for manufacturing purposes or other related activities. The interviews with downtown Minneapolis business leaders will focus on those influenced by the MARQ2 project.

10.2 Selection of Individuals to Interview

It is recommended that 8-to-12 individuals in each of the three targeted groups – commercial fleet services/operators, transportation-sensitive businesses, and downtown Minneapolis businesses – be interviewed. Suggestions on individuals to include in the interviews should be requested from Mn/DOT's Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operation, the Downtown Minneapolis Council, local chambers of commerce, the Downtown Minneapolis TMO, I-494 Commuter Services, and other groups. The final selection of individuals to interview will be made by the group conducting the interviews, with review and input from the national evaluation team.

10.3 Interview Questions

Tables 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 provide a preliminary list of questions for inclusion in the interviews with individuals in for each of the three target groups. The questions focus on the key areas of interest to each of the groups and the potential benefits and impacts from the UPA projects. The interview questions will be finalized by the group conducting the interviews.

10.4 Analysis Methods

The group identified to conduct the interviews will review the interview notes and tape recordings and will document the major comments. A summary report will be prepared highlighting the common themes emerging from the interview, as well as the unique perspectives of different individuals. The summary report will be organized by the interview questions, with a final section presenting the overlying themes.

The interview results will provide additional insight into the impact of the UPA projects on the movement of goods and services on the I-35W and in downtown Minneapolis. The qualitative information obtained from these interviews will be used to expand and enhance the quantitative data from other test plans that serve as input to the goods movement analysis, the business impacts analysis, and other analyses.

10.5 Schedule and Responsibilities

It is recommended that the interviews with members of the downtown business community be conducted in June and July 2010, approximately six months after the opening of the MARQ2 bus lanes. Given the potential for ongoing traffic disruptions on I-35W caused by construction activities in the Crosstown Commons section, it is recommended that the interviews with CVOs and representatives of transportation-sensitive businesses be conducted in April and May, 2011, approximately six months after completion of the Crosstown Commons section. This schedule will provide the opportunity for all travelers, including commercial vehicles, to experience the completed facility with all of the UPA projects in operation.

The responsibilities for conducting the interviews of commercial fleet services/operators, representatives from transportation-sensitive businesses, and members of the downtown Minneapolis business community will be finalized if funding is found to support the interviews. The general responsibilities are outlined below.

  • The selected party will finalize the individuals to be interviewed with input from Mn/DOT's Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operation, the Downtown Minneapolis Council, local chambers of commerce, the Downtown Minneapolis TMO, I-494 Commuter Services, and other organizations. The selected party will finalize the interview questions, conduct the interviews, and document the results.
  • Members of the Battelle team will review the final interview questions and the list of individuals to be interviewed, review the summary report, and incorporate the interview results into the interim and final national evaluation reports.
Table 10-1. Interview Questions for Commercial Fleet Services/Operators
Title Question
Introduction
  • Explain the National UPA Evaluation purpose, scope, local partners, and sponsors.
  • Describe the purpose and process for the interviews of commercial fleet services/operators.
  • Note that the interviews are confidential. Responses will not be attributed to any individual.
General Information on Use of I-35W
  1. Please describe your business and the use of I-35W.
  2. Is I-35W a major travel corridor for your vehicles?
  3. What has been your experience over the past few years with traffic congestion on I-35W?
I-35W HOT Lanes and PDSL Operations
  1. Do you operate any vehicles that are allowed to use the I-35W HOT lanes?  (small, two-axle trucks weighing less than 26,000 pounds are allowed to use the lanes).
  2. If yes, how frequently do your vehicles use the lanes?
  3. How much time do your operators save by using the lanes?
  4. Have you experienced improved trip-time reliability?
  5. What is your overall impression of the HOT lanes in terms of improving traffic flow on I-35W? Have the HOT lanes helped or hurt your operation? Please explain.
Active Traffic Management – Speed Harmonization
  1. Have you or your operators noticed any changes due to the use of the active traffic management strategies, including speed harmonization, on a portion of I-35W? If so, please describe your experience.
Overall Operation of I-35W
  1. Have you or your operators experienced any changes in travel time, trip-time reliability, and congestion in the general-purpose freeway lanes of I-35W since the implementation of the various UPA projects?
  2. If so, please describe your experiences. Do you think I-35W is less congested and operates better now than before the improvements?
  3. Have you noticed any difference in safety and crashes with the implementation of the elements discussed above?
Closing
  1. Overall, do you think traffic congestion on I-35W is better, worse, or no different since the implementation of all the Minnesota UPA projects?
  2. Do you have any other comments related to traffic on I-35W?

Table 10-2. Interview Questions for Transportation-Sensitive Business Partners
Title Question
Introduction
  • Explain the National UPA Evaluation purpose, scope, local partners, and sponsors.
  • Describe the purpose and process for the interviews of transportation-sensitive business representatives.
  • Note that the interviews are confidential. Responses will not be attributed to any individual.
General Information
  1. Please describe your business and the use of I-35W.
  2. Is I-35W a major travel corridor for your vehicles or vehicles that provide services to you?
  3. What has been your experience over the past few years with traffic congestion on I-35W?
I-35W HOT Lanes and PDSL Operations
  1. Do you operate any vehicles that are allowed to use the I-35W HOT lanes and PDSL or are you served by vehicles using the HOT lanes and PDSL? (small, two-axle trucks weighing less than 26,000 pounds are allowed to use the lanes).
  2. If yes, how frequently do your vehicles or vehicles serving you use the lanes?
  3. How much time do operators save by using the lanes?
  4. Have operators experienced improved trip-time reliability?
Active Traffic Management – Speed Harmonization
  1. Have you or vehicle operators serving you noticed any changes due to the use of the active traffic management strategies, including speed harmonization, on a portion of I-35W? If so, please describe your experience.
MARQ2 Bus Lanes Downtown Minneapolis
  1. Has your business been impacted by the implementation of the MARQ2 bus lanes in downtown Minneapolis? If so, please explain what the impacts have been.
Closing
  1. Overall, do you think traffic congestion on I-35W is better, worse, or no different since the implementation of all the Minnesota UPA projects?
  2. Do you have any other comments related to traffic on I-35W?

Table 10-3. Interview Questions for Downtown Minneapolis Business Community Representatives
Title Question
Introduction
  • Explain the National UPA Evaluation purpose, scope, local partners, and sponsors.
  • Describe the purpose and process for the interviews of downtown Minneapolis business community representatives.
  • Note that the interviews are confidential. Responses will not be attributed to any individual.
General Information
  1. Please describe your business and your involvement in the downtown Minneapolis business community.
MARQ2 Dual Bus Lanes
  1. Has your business been impacted by the implementation of the MARQ2 bus lanes in downtown Minneapolis? If so, please explain what the impacts have been.
  2. Did you previously use Marquette and 2nd Avenues for deliveries or other services (taxis, etc.)? If so, how have you changed your operations?
  3. What has been the impact of this change?
  4. Do your employees or customers ride the bus? If so, what has been their reaction to the MARQ2 bus lanes and streetscape improvements?
  5. Overall, do you think the MARQ2 improvements have had a positive effect, no effect, or negative effect on downtown Minneapolis? Please explain your response.
  6. Have you noticed any changes in safety due to the MARQ2 lanes?
I-35W HOT Lanes, PDSL, and Other Projects
  1. Overall, what is your impression of the HOT lanes, PDSL, and other projects on the operation of I-35W and travel in and out of downtown Minneapolis?
Closing
  1. Do you have any other comments related to the MARQ2 bus lanes or traffic on I-35W?