3rd blog: What customer insight do we already have?
In this post, we explain which existing data sources have helped us understand residents’ travel habits in the area and how we use this understanding to support the route network planning.
As a starting point for planning, we used data on current travel habits in the area. This includes, for example, information about where people travel by public transport, which routes they use, and where they would like to travel using public transport. To support planning, we have also used results from other surveys and studies carried out in the area in recent years, as well as customer experience data that we collect several times a year.
In addition to insights gathered from residents, planning has been supported by
- information on land use and the transport network in the planning area and related development plans
- boarding data for current routes
- traffic modeling results
- data about the number and location of residents, jobs, and services in the area.
Planning is guided by the constraints and cost considerations described in Blog 2.
We develop public transport for its users. That’s why understanding the needs and views of those who use the services is central to our planning. We use a wide range of data and background information to achieve this. Planning is always a balance between customer needs and existing constraints. We aim to find solutions that serve as many residents and passengers as possible. The end result is always a compromise, and unfortunately, we cannot meet every individual wish.
This autumn, we have completed the first draft of the route network. The draft has been developed bearing in mind the planning constraints and the needs of those who use the routes. Our goal is to publish the draft on this page for review by the end of the year. Residents will be able to provide feedback on the draft by responding to a survey. The draft will be revised early next year based on the survey results and the planning constraints.
How is customer insight used in planning the West Helsinki route network?
The most comprehensive dataset on travel in the HSL area is the extensive travel habit survey conducted in spring 2024. The survey results show where HSL area residents travel in their daily lives and where they would like to travel. Over 54,000 people visited the survey, with nearly 30,000 people completing it. The results have provided us with a broader understanding of the travel habits of people living in the HSL area, regardless of the modes of transport used. You can read more about the travel habit survey here.
When designing the first draft of the West Helsinki route network, we specifically used data from the travel habit survey. We conducted a dedicated analysis for this project, which helped us refine our understanding of residents’ travel patterns and related preferences in the planning area. Other smaller surveys have supplemented the insights gained from the travel habit survey.
In preparing the draft, we examined the current and desired destinations of residents in all sub-areas of the planning area. This information helps us ensure that the new route network provides connections to the places passengers need to reach. We also evaluated the impact of route changes on cost-effectiveness across different sections of the routes. In practice, this means analyzing each route to identify the most significant sections, i.e., those with the highest current passenger volumes.
Now that we have compiled the first draft of the route network plan, we have revisited customer insights. We reviewed travel destinations again to make sure that public transport will provide smooth connections from the areas included in the plan to key destinations.
Below is a summary of highlights from the travel habit survey results by area.