Page 46 - Wash Co First and Last Mile Background Report

TECHNICAL MEMO #1

such as taking transit, walking, or biking. 9,10 Young adults make up a large portion of the
Washington County population—approximately 16 percent—making the trends of this
11
age cohort influential on the travel demands of County.
 Older Adults. Older Adults, people ages 65 and older, make up a significant portion of
12
the population—approximately 13 percent of the Washington County. Studies show
that Baby Boomers (a person born between 1946 and 1964) are wanting to age in place,
which will enhance their need for travel options as driving becomes less viable with
age. 13,14

3.1 First Mile Travel Options Propensity

The following four key factors were considered in determining residential travel options
propensity: access to a vehicle, income, young adults, and older adults. Examining where these
groups live may help determine suitable locations for first mile projects, programs and outreach
to partners. Data for these maps was taken from the U.S. Census American Community Survey
(ACS). The following maps show the home location of Washington County residents, by density,
who are considered a zero-vehicle household, low-income, a millennial, and an older adult
followed by the residential travel options propensity map.
 Figure 3-1 Zero-Vehicle Households: The highest densities of zero vehicle households
are concentrated in areas with multiple transit services available, such as the
intersection of MAX, WES, and frequent bus service in Beaverton, and the intersection
of the MAX blue line and frequent bus service in Hillsboro. Many areas of the scattered
throughout the County have no zero vehicle households.
 Figure 3-2 Low-Income Residents: The highest concentrations of low-income residents
are in Beaverton and Hillsboro. Forest Grove and Tigard also have some areas with a
high density of low-income residents.
 Figure 3-3 Young Adult Residents: Beaverton and Hillsboro have the highest
concentrations of residents who are young adults.

9
A study conducted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found that Millennials are multimodal,
choosing the best transportation mode based on the trip they’re planning to take. Taking transit and riding a bike
were the most preferred modes of transportation, while driving a car was the least preferred mode. This study was
conducted in 2013 and retrieved from http://www.apta.com/resources/reportsandpublications/Documents/APTA-
Millennials-and-Mobility.pdf
10
Pew Research Center. April 2016. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/25/millennials-
overtake-baby-boomers/
11
Portland State University Certified Population Estimates, 2017.
12
Ibid.
13
Pew Research Center. April 2016. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/25/millennials-
overtake-baby-boomers/
14
AARP recently reported that 87% of adults ages 65 and older want to stay in their current home and community as
they age. Similarly, 71% of the preceding age cohort—people ages 50 to 64—want to age in place. This study was
conducted in April 2014 and retrieved from http://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/aarp-ppi-survey-
what-makes-a-community-livable.html

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