Household Travel Survey (HTS)

The Household Travel Survey (HTS) collects information on personal travel behaviour. The study area is the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Area (GMA) and forms the geographic scope of the survey. The area covered by the GMA includes Sydney, Illawarra and the Hunter. All residents of occupied private dwellings within this area are considered in scope of the survey and are randomly selected to participate.

The HTS is conducted every day of the year and has been running continuously since 1997/98. Currently approximately 4,000 households are randomly selected and approached annually to participate in this survey that runs continuously every day of the year – including during school and public holidays. Data is collected on all trips made over a 24-hour period. Surveys are conducted using face-to-face interviews and each member of the household is included.

Annual estimates from the HTS are produced using three years of pooled data. For example, 2015/16 estimates are based on 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 pooled data and is weighted to 2015/16 population. All estimates are weighted to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Estimated Resident Population, corresponding to the year of collection.

Unless otherwise stated, all estimates are for an average weekday.

HTS data is available by Region, Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3) or Local Government Area (LGA). LGA Data is only available from 2016/17 onwards.

The HTS population figures are based on the Estimated Resident Population (ERP) published by the ABS for the corresponding year. HTS population estimates are also slightly lower than those reported in the ABS census as we exclude overseas visitors and those in non-private dwellings.

The Household Travel Survey Glossary of Terms is available here (DOCX, 21.72 KB).