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<br />perceptions appear to be worse than <br />reality. A similar question was posed <br />to customers in College Station, and <br />the customer survey responses <br />seemed to match the business <br />owner's/manager's opinions. <br />Generally, customers indicated <br />construction was a greater factor in <br />deciding where to shop than the <br />existence of the raised median. <br />. A majority of customers indicated <br />that while the raised median made <br />access more difficult, they would <br />still frequent the five businesses <br />where customer surveys were <br />performed. <br />. The research found that business <br />owners generally did not reduce <br />their workforces after the raised <br />median installation and even during <br />the construction phase of the project <br />when business was the most difficult. <br />. Business owners present before, <br />during, and after the raised median <br />installation indicated property <br />values increased, while business <br />owners interviewed before <br />construction expected they would <br />decrease. <br />. Figure 2 and Figure j further show <br />the difference in perceived impacts <br />from those business owners present <br />before, during, and after the raised <br />median installation (Figure 2) <br />compared to those that were <br />interviewed pri~r to the median <br />construction (Figure j). Perceptions <br />of business owners summarized in <br />Figure:\ were generally "worse" <br />than those businesses in r-'igure 2. <br />In particular, property access was <br />"worse" in .Figure .., at a higher rate <br />than in Figure ::". Similar results <br />were also found for business <br />oPP0l1unities, customer satisfaction, <br />and deli very con venience. <br />. The construction phase seemed to <br />impact customers per day and gross <br />sales. After the construction of the <br />projects with a raised median, <br />business types such as durables <br /> <br /> <br />Summary Report 3904"5 <br /> <br /> <br />1010 <br /> <br />9lo <br /> <br />00.0 <br /> <br />'" <br />c <br />~ 70.0 <br />C <br />o <br />~ 60.0 <br />.. <br />'" <br />'Q 50.0 <br />C <br />~ AO.n <br />.. <br />... <br /> <br />~'lJ.o <br /> <br />.lO <br /> <br />10.0 <br /> <br />0.0 <br /> <br />Bll"er <br /> <br />UTrillfltCong9$!iIlll <br />aTn:.lficS;;ll'ly <br />OPl'I)perlyAc(;Qss <br />1lI,BIISiil<:lssOppOf1unitin <br />aCuslnn,.,Saliilfacliim <br />aOelMl1yCOlWlli'llllnCll <br /> <br />The Same <br /> <br />WClr;... <br /> <br />Figure 3. Raised median impacts of interest for businesses interviewed <br />before construction <br /> <br />retail, specialty retail, fast-food <br />restaurants, and sit-down <br />restaurants indicated increasing <br />customers per day, gross sales, and <br />property values. Gas stations, auto <br />repair, and other service businesses <br />indicated decreasing customers per <br />day and gross sales after the raised <br />median was installed. <br />. Overall, 61.5 percent of respondents <br />indicated they had low public <br />involvement in project development. <br />This response indicates that there is <br />a majority of business owners <br />and/or managers that are not <br />attending the public meetings for <br />raised median projects. <br />. The personal interviews appear to <br />have provided more reliable data than <br />the mail-out surveys, and survey <br />respondents appreciated the face-to- <br />face opportunity to have their opinions <br />heard. The average response rate for <br />the personal interviews was higher <br />(55 percent) than the response rate for <br />the mail-out surveys (9 percent). <br /> <br /> <br />Project results generally indicate <br />that prior perceptions are harsher than <br />the impacts indicated by business <br />owners and managers after <br />construction. This information could <br />be presented to concerned business <br />owners and managers before <br /> <br />-3- <br /> <br />construction of the raised median to <br />alleviate concerns. <br />The construction phase appears to <br />have the most detrimental impacts <br />on businesses. Suggestions to <br />alleviate these impacts include <br />1) ensuring adequate and highly <br />visible access to businesses during <br />construction, 2) reducing <br />construction time, and 3) pelfonning <br />the construction in smaller roadway <br />segments (phases). <br />"Open house" formats for public <br />meetings for raised median <br />installation projects may provide a <br />means to facilitate communication <br />of these research results through <br />one-on-one discussion and handouts <br />to concerned citizens. <br />The methodology developed for <br />this research effort provides a <br />logical sequence that can be used <br />by TxDOT personnel and others <br />interested in researching economic <br />impacts of future raised median <br />projects. The methodology <br />includes pelforming surveys with <br />materials and administration <br />procedures developed in this research <br />project. The surveys provide <br />insight into perceptions of business <br />owners and customers regai'ding <br />raised median installation impacts. <br />