TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT Sustainable Transportation 15 March 2013

Outlines Introduction Traffic Congestion: Why does it happen? Planning for Reduced Traffic Traffic Reduction

Introduction Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies that increase overall transportation system efficiency by encouraging a shift from single-occupant vehicle (SOV) to non-SOV modes, or by shifting auto trips out of peak periods. TDM strategies are more cost-effective than increasing roadway capacity. Often not pursued because they are not well understood.

Traffic Congestion What is Traffic Congestion? Demand exceeding supply The number of motorists exceeding the road capacity. Many decide to sit in congestion rather than avoiding the trip, use another travel mode, take a different route, or change trip pattern. The dilemma of affordable housing, a decent job, and an easy commute.

Traffic Congestion What is Traffic Congestion Traffic congestion is a sign of economic “success”. Traffic congestion is a concern for 4 reasons: It takes up valuable time and reduce quality of life. It limits future economic expansion. Congestion produces more local pollution and carbon dioxide per km. As congestion reaches a certain level, the person capacity of the network declines sharply. qmax q kj k u ke uf Flow, q A E B C kc kb

Traffic Congestion Where Does Congestion Happen? Freeway ramps Colliding grids Broken grids Missing grids Major activity centers

Traffic Congestion How Can We Solve the Congestion? Demand management techniques Relocate traffic congestion. San Francisco uses congestion to discourage trips through downtown. Vancouver places traffic bottlenecks in a ring around the city. Santa Monica accepts a high level of congestion at the first traffic signals before and after its freeway ramps.

Traffic Congestion How Can a City Grow If It Already Has Traffic Congestion? MOBILITY Move people in more efficient ways. Three key factors influencing people’s choice of travel: Time: People will adjust their travel to use faster modes. Quality: People will avoid travel choices that do not offer a decent level of human dignity. Cost: The impact of cost on travel choices varies with income. ACCESSIBILITY Help people avoid making trips by increasing accessibility. Bringing goods and services closer together

Planning for Reduced Traffic Projects That Do Not Reduce Traffic Widen Roads: Producing more goods (roadway) at a lower price (less congestion) simply leads to an increase in the market demand increase. New Transit Lines: Transit projects hardly reduce congestion unless they are combine with land-use policy and other TDM tools. Bikeways: Bikeways without strategies only create shifts from carpooling, walking and transit. Additional roadway capacity will be consumed by induced demand.

Planning for Reduced Traffic Why New Transportation Projects Do Not Relieve Congestions? Induced Demand: Trips that are shifted from other modes, are longer or are newly generated due to improved transportation system capacity. Real Estate Market Change: Transport capital projects often results in significant real estate value impacts.

Planning for Reduced Traffic Strategy Effectiveness Expanding Development New Development Existing Development Increasing Effectiveness Voluntary Incentives Required Increasing Effectiveness

Traffic Reduction TDM strategies are some of the most cost-effective ways to allow new development in moderately dense areas without increasing traffic and parking demand. Other benefits include reduced air pollution, increased traffic safety, improved public health, and better urban design. The success of TDM relies on the support of the private interest. Reasons for employees to participate in TDM program: Cost savings Employee attraction Tax incentives

Traffic Reduction Making TDM the law Transportation Management Association (TMA) mandatory membership for all new and existing employers and new commercial development. Annual fees Transportation surveys Training

Traffic Reduction TDM Regulatory Requirements Five primary TDM programs are universally implemented and successful. Universal transit passes Parking cash-out Bicycle facility requirements Car sharing A transportation resource center

Traffic Reduction: Strategies Create Universal Transit Passes and Require Them in New Development Transit agencies team up with universities, organizations, employers, developers, and residential neighborhoods. Universal transit pass programs offer employers or residential developments the opportunity to purchase deeply discounted transit passes. Cost of providing parking spaces are much more than providing free transit passes. Passes may be used for purchasing other goods.

Traffic Reduction: Strategies Parking Cash-out Employers who offers parking benefits to their employees are required to offer an equal transportation fringe benefits to employers who use modes other than driving alone to get to work. The benefits of parking cash-out include: Providing an equal transportation subsidy to employees who ride transit, carpool, van pool, walk or bicycle to work. Providing a low-cost fringe benefit that helps businesses recruit and retain employees. Establishing a system of requirements that are simple to administer and enforce.

Traffic Reduction: Strategies Required Excellent Bicycle Facilities Ensure the provision of an adequate and secure supply of bicycle parking facilities as likely destinations, e.g. transportation centers, park and ride, public institutions, multi-family housing and employment centers, Encourage provision of showers clothes lockers and other storage facilities at destinations where practical and feasible. Promote the use of bicycle for recreation, commuting, shopping and other purposes through education, enforcement and incentive programs.

Traffic Reduction: Strategies Promote Car-sharing Traditional car-sharing program Cars are leased or owned by the car-sharing organization. Vehicles are spread across a geographic area. Reservation are made using internet or by telephone. Shared car must be returned to the location from which they were taken. Public policies that support car sharing On-and off-street parking Zoning Development code Shared-car parking requirement

Traffic Reduction: Strategies Create a Transportation Resource Center Education and outreach are critical components of any comprehensive TDM program. A transportation resource center can provide information on carpool matching transit routes and schedule transit passes bicycle routes other transportation options. Social marketing and incentive programs are providing and increasingly popular and effective way to promote non-SOV travel.

Traffic Reduction Price Your Way Out of Congestion Make fixed cost of driving more variable Car-sharing Pay-as-you-drive insurance Parking cash-out Increase the variable costs of driving Fuel taxes Parking charges Price congestion directly through variable road tools Cordon line Per-mile basis

Traffic Reduction Cordon Pricing Controversy Economic impacts Legal issues and popularity Lack of transit alternatives Privacy Equity

Traffic Reduction Congestion-Based Parking Pricing Motorists are usually uncomfortable with roadway charges, but intuitively accept parking fees. Price the trip “end” instead of pricing the trip. Market-based adjustable pricing to ensure parking availability. Database tracks utilization, duration and turnovers over time to collect data and more efficiently manage parking resources.