Getting From Here to There in Dallas County, TX: A Transportation Survey of AARP Members

Transportation plays a major role in helping people stay connected to their communities as well as live an independent life. AARP Texas is a member of the Community Transportation Network, a coalition of public, private, and non-profit organizations in the Greater Dallas Area, assembled to study the transportation needs of people with disabilities and older adults in Dallas County.  AARP Texas commissioned a mail survey of AARP members age 60+ residing in Dallas County, Texas, to learn more about their transportation needs and to provide additional information to the coalition on the transportation needs of older adults in Dallas County. 

Key Survey Findings

• The most common mode of transportation for all AARP members age 60+ in Dallas County is by car or other vehicle and by driving themselves.
• Most AARP members have public transportation services (public buses or trains) available in their community. However, one in five does not.
• Of members who do have access to public transportation in their community, most can walk to the nearest public transportation stop without driving. However, one in five cannot.
• One in five members has used public transportation (DART or other public transit) in the last six months. The most likely users of public transportation are members age 60-69 and members with low-income (under $20,000).
• Most members are aware that paratransit services exist in Dallas County, and eight percent have used or have a family member who has used these services.
• At least two in three members would find a door-to-door (74%) or a door-through-door (68%) service extremely, very, or somewhat helpful if they needed personal transportation assistance.

This mail survey was conducted during October-December 2009. Two simple random samples were selected from AARP’s membership database of members living in Dallas County, Texas: 3,500 AARP members age 60 years and older (county-wide sample) and 1,500 members age 60+ likely to have household income under $20,000 (low-income sample). Each sample was proportionally stratified by three age segments: 60-69, 70-79, and 80+. The sampling error for the larger sample is ±2.7%. For further information, contact Terri Guengerich at 202-434-6306. (39 pages)