Annual Survey Finds Middle Peninsula Commuters Still Driving Solo, Still Seeking Solutions — But Awareness of Regional Options Is Growing

Each year, the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) surveys regional commuters about their daily travel habits — and the 2026 results tell a familiar story: residents are still overwhelmingly driving alone, still spending hundreds of dollars each week getting to and from work, and still looking for solutions that fit their lives.

But this year’s data also shows something new: more residents know that help is available.

The 2026 Middle Peninsula Commuting Habits Survey is part of an ongoing effort to understand transportation needs across the six-county region — Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex, including the towns of Tappahannock, Urbanna and West Point.

The data is used to guide planning, programming and outreach for MidPenRideShare/ConnectingVA, the free regional ridematching and commuter services program.

“The consistency in these results tells us something important: this isn’t a problem that’s going away on its own,” said Perry Hickman, Executive Director of the MPPDC. “But more commuters are aware of MidPenRideShare and ConnectingVA than they were a year ago. Our job now is to continue to turn that awareness into action.”

Solo Driving Remains the Norm

As in 2025, the vast majority of 2026 survey respondents reported driving alone as their primary mode of transportation to work. Gas- and diesel-powered vehicles dominate the commute, and the route corridors — led by Route 17 over the George P. Coleman Bridge — remain consistent with prior findings.

When asked why they haven’t tried alternatives like carpooling, vanpooling or transit, respondents cited familiar barriers: public transit doesn’t match their route or schedule, they work late or irregular hours, they can’t guarantee getting home in an emergency, and they prefer the flexibility of driving themselves.

Commuting remains a significant financial burden. Respondents again reported spending between $50 and $149 per week on fuel, tolls, parking and transit fares — with a substantial portion spending $100 or more weekly. At the national average commute cost rate of 60.8 cents per mile, these figures add up quickly for Middle Peninsula residents heading to work in the Virgina Peninsula, Richmond, Fredericksburg or Northern Virginia regions.

“The commuting burden our residents carry every day is exactly why economic development on the Middle Peninsula isn’t just a jobs issue — it’s a quality of life issue,” said Hickman. “When nearly three-quarters of our workforce has to leave the region to earn a living, we’re asking families to absorb real costs — in dollars, in time and in stress. Growing local job opportunities isn’t just good for our economy. It’s one of the most direct ways we can improve life for the people who call this place home.”

Survey respondents again rated the impact of commuting time on their lives as moderate to very significant — a finding that tracks closely with 2025 results. Satisfaction with current commuting arrangements remains mixed, with a notable share of respondents expressing dissatisfaction.

Convenience, flexibility, travel time and cost continue to be the top factors driving commuters’ transportation decisions. These priorities shape what solutions respondents say they’d actually use — and what incentives would make them more likely to try an alternative.

What Would It Take to Make a Change?

Open-ended responses to the question of what incentives would make commuters more likely to try an alternative paint a clear picture of what the region needs. Respondents pointed to:

• Cost relief — discounted or free transit passes, employer-sponsored commuting subsidies, toll reimbursements for carpoolers and gas stipends
• Reliability and convenience — more frequent and faster service, real-time schedule updates and routes that actually match where people live and work
• Safety and infrastructure — protected bike lanes, secure bike storage and well-lit, weather-protected waiting areas
• Flexibility — employer-offered flexible start and end times and increased remote work options
• Rewards — gift cards, loyalty points or small cash incentives for consistent use of alternative commuting options

These responses reinforce the value of programs like MidPenRideShare/ConnectingVA, which already connects commuters with carpool and vanpool matches, park-and-ride lot information, trip planning tools and rewards for logging greener trips.

Telework Remains a Strong Interest

As in 2025, a strong majority of respondents said they would consider working from a local or regional telework center if it offered professional space, strong security and high-speed internet at little or no cost. The 2026 survey found continued high interest in this option, consistent with the overwhelming support recorded in the prior year’s results.

HUB33, the King and Queen County’s telework and co-working center, continues to offer a direct response to this demand — featuring telework cubicles, free Wi-Fi, a park-and-ride commuter lot and co-located community services.

Growing Awareness of MidPenRideShare/ConnectingVA

New to the 2026 survey, questions about awareness and enrollment in the MidPenRideShare/ConnectingVA program revealed meaningful progress. While the 2025 survey found that a large majority of commuters had never heard of MidPenRideshare, this year’s results show an increase in regional recognition — a sign that outreach and communications efforts are making a difference.

“Every commuter who learns about this program is a potential match for someone else looking to share a ride,” Hickman said. “Building awareness is the first step. Getting people enrolled and logging trips is how we make a measurable difference in this region.”

Commuters interested in learning more about MidPenRideShare/ConnectingVA can visit midpenrideshare.org.