To　explore　the　relevant　characteristics　of　Beijing　residents＇　travel　time,　especially　the　values　of　travel　time,　the　authors　organized　a　small-sample　survey　and　received　1　305　effective　reports.　First,　the　design　of　the　survey　scheme　was　introduced,　including　selection　of　items,　estimation　of　sample　quantity,　and　selection　of　locations.　Then,　the　average　value　of　the　travel　time　was　calculated　in　terms　of　modes　and　purposes　based　on　the　surveyed　data.　In　addition,　the　low　dispersion　coefficients　indicated　that　the　average　value　had　a　good　representative　quality.　The　average　travel　time　cost　per　time　in　terms　of　different　modes　and　purposes　was　calculated　based　on　the　data　of　average　salary,　travel　time,　and　purpose　per　person　relevant　to　each　travel　mode.　The　results　indicated　that　for　the　purpose　of　job　and　business,　the　travel　time　cost　per　person　by　car　or　public　transit　is　nearly　10-17　RMB.　It　means　that　if　the　efficiency　of　the　entire　road　network　is　greatly　improved,　the　cost　time　saved　by　the　whole　society　is　quite　huge.　©　2009　China　Association　for　Science　and　Technology.