Burbank TMO's 2026 Commuter Survey
Every year, The City of Burbank’s municipal code requires employers in the Media District and Downtown Burbank Specific Plan Areas with 25 or more employees to survey their employees’ commutes. The BTMO is here to help employers comply and make the process as easy as possible.
This year’s annual trip reduction survey will gather information on your employees’ transportation habits for the week of September 21 – September 25th , 2026.
If you would like to choose a different survey week (that does not land on a holiday, promotion, or special event), email director@btmo.org to let us know ahead of time. The survey period will close in December.
What is an AVR Commuter Survey?
The City’s municipal code specifies that employers in the Media District and Downtown Burbank Specific Plan Areas with 25 or more employees are required to reduce their evening peak period automobile travel by 38%, reaching an Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR) of 1.61. Each year, employers are required to survey their employees to determine their AVR and report their efforts to reduce employee trips.
Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR) is a metric used to measure the number of people coming to or leaving a site versus the number of cars. 1 person arriving or leaving in 1 vehicle would create an AVR of 1, while 2 people arriving in 1 vehicle (or 1 arriving in a vehicle and 1 arriving by bicycle) would create an AVR of 2. The higher the number, the higher number of sustainable trips employees are taking to get to their work!
The City has assigned an AVR target of 1.61 to employers in the Media and Downtown districts. Though there are currently no penalties for not hitting the 1.61 target, employers should do their best to get there by encouraging and promoting alternative transportation options like taking transit, walking, biking, or carpooling.
If your worksite has trouble meeting the target, get in touch with us! We are here to help you develop strategies and connect you to resources that can help improve your worksite’s AVR.
Why the Survey Matters
These surveys are vital for tracking progress and understanding Burbank’s transportation needs, contributing to a less congested and more sustainable community.
The City of Burbank and the BTMO use the data gathered from these surveys to inform decisions and improve services to help employees commuting to Burbank find alternative modes of transportations that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the area.
How to Conduct the Survey
Survey Steps Using LA Metro Survey Tool (Recommended):
Using the LA Metro Survey Tool allow for electronic survey collection and reporting, and gives your employees access to incentives like a free TAP card, customized RideGuide, rewards, and a Guaranteed Ride Home Program.
- Fill out the BTMO’s Survey Intake Form
- Email or call Tiffany Fischer (FischerT@metro.net | (213) 922-4233) to set up a survey link. She will send you a form to fill out.
- Share the link or paper surveys with employees (including telecommuters) the Monday after your Survey Week.
- Set an internal deadline and send reminders (See Flyer Template and Email Template) to boost participation.
- Get your results: Tiffany will provide the reports required to comply with City of Burbank reporting including the Final AVR Report and the VMT Report. No further action is needed.
Survey Steps Using Manual BTMO Forms
- Fill out the BTMO’s Survey Intake Form
- Distribute the fillable pdf or paper Form A (English form (pdf, word) or Spanish form (pdf, word) to every employee (including telecommuters) the Monday after your Survey Week
- Set an internal deadline and send 1–2 reminders (See Flyer Template and Email Template) to boost participation.
- Once all the survey results are collected, fill out the highlighted sections in Report (Form B) using the Worksheet and Report tables. View the Instructions tab for more details.
- Email the Report of your survey data/results to director@btmo.org or mail it to the BTMO at 200 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502.
Survey Using a 3rd Party Platform (Only for 250+ Employees – AQMD sites)
- Fill out the BTMO’s Survey Intake Form
- Once all the survey results are collected, translate your AQMD survey results into the highlighted sections in Report (Form B) using the Worksheet and Report tables.
- Email the Form B Report and the peak period VMT results of your AQMD survey to director@btmo.org or mail it to the BTMO at 200 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502.
For a more detailed explanation of the survey steps and why we conduct the survey, check out our Survey Office Hours Presentation.
Resources to Promote the Survey
Use these templates to for customized communication materials to boost survey participation.
Resources:
Tips & Troubleshooting
Data Privacy & FAQs
Yes. Metro’s survey is hosted through TripSpark, which has supported Southern California’s regional rideshare and AVR database for more than 20 years. Survey data is encrypted and hosted in independently audited data centers.
The regional system is funded and supported by Metro, OCTA, VCTC, RCTC, and SBCTA.
Home-location information is used to understand commute distances and travel patterns. If an employee is not filling out a survey to serve Rule 2202 reporting requirements, then a full street address is not required. Employees may provide their city, ZIP code, and nearby cross streets instead.
If an employee is not filling out a survey to serve Rule 2202 reporting requirements, then they may just use their full last name and first initial of their first name instead of their full legal name.
A unique identifier helps distinguish survey responses and validate results. Employees can use any appropriate unique identifier, such as a work email, payroll ID, phone extension, or workspace number.
Survey information is used to validate and analyze commute trips and support City of Burbank and, where applicable, Rule 2202 reporting requirements.
