Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

CCMPO TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM) EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

The Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization seeks to increase travel by transit, carpools, vanpools, bicycling, and walking, and at alternative times, while reducing total trips and decreasing use of single-occupant modes. In FY05 the CCMPO retained URS Corporation to assemble a TDM Education, Outreach and Support Program. This program, offered as a plan document, was completed and delivered in December 2005. This plan to expand and enhance Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs helps meet county goals for mobility, transportation system efficiency, and environmental protection. The plan is divided into three sections, summarized below, and offers implementation recommendations in two distinct areas: 1) Programmatic and organizational structure and process; and 2) implementation through development review. Copies of URS's full report (including briefing papers) are available on request or from the table below.

Chittenden County TDM Education, Outreach, & Support Program

COVER PAGE

URS FINAL PLAN

SUMMARY OF EXISTING TDM-RELATED REGULATORY CONDITIONS

TDM REGULATORY CONDITIONS: BARRIERS & RECOMMENDATIONS

PRIORITY EMPLOYMENT AREAS FOR TDM PHASING

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

TDM PROGRAM IMPACTS & EVALUATION

Introduction

This outlines regional TDM related goals and describes the TDM Program planning process. The consultant conducted interviews with public and private county stakeholders, examined national TDM models, developed benchmarks against which to gauge program progress, prioritized target geographic areas, and recommended community land development regulations (see recommendations below) supportive of TDM implementation.

Successful TDM efforts create action and behavior change, not just awareness, by moving travelers along a decision-making continuum familiar to social marketers. Expanded TDM initiatives should focus first in Burlington - Vermont's largest employment center. Downtown, in combination with the waterfront, and Pine Street Corridor represent the priority activity center based on employment density, parking costs, and existing congestion. Beyond Burlington, the plan identifies the IBM area, Taft Corners, and I-89 Exit 16 for expanded TDM services.

Program Elements

TDM programs are designed to provide customized services attractive to target markets, while making those services visible and accessible to potential participants. The plan for Chittenden County begins by outlining a process for branding the initiative to reflect its services, mission, or locale.

Core elements providing access to TDM services for travelers include a toll-free telephone number, website, and direct messaging, augmented with community awareness strategies. Financial incentives reward behavior change while an Emergency Ride Home Program (ERH) eliminates travelers' fear of being stranded.

The plan outlines a combination of a structured employer outreach process with worksite technical assistance, including ridematching services, which underpin TDM Program efforts. Municipalities are encouraged to amend development codes to include more comprehensive TDM language. Recommended monitoring and evaluation methods will quantify program impacts and help gauge program success.

Making It Happen

The CCMPO, along with its TDM Partners (CCTA, CATMA, VTrans, Burlington DPW, the Alliance for Climate Action, and adding the CCRPC) should act as the TDM Program's advisory group, continuing to guide, coordinate, and advocate for enhanced travel options. A meeting of Burlington stakeholders should be convened to explore priority services, optimal institutional frameworks, and next steps, including the preferred operating entity - see recommendation below.

Nationally, publicly-funded TDM programs use federal, state, and local resources, ideally augmented with private sector funding from employers served by the program. Finally, the plan outlines the sequence of steps for successful implementation of enhanced Chittenden County TDM services.

Recommendations

1. Programmatic and Organizational Next Steps in Burlington

The TDM Partners should convene a facilitated, roundtable discussion of large Burlington public and private employers, business associations, and interest groups to outline planning (including suggested program elements, sample branding image, recommended services, and potential funding strategies) to date and solicit feedback from attendees on:

Priority TDM services
Optimal operating entities, and
funding sources.

TDM program champions may emerge through this consensus building process to expand business community collaboration.

2. Implementation through Development Review

Municipalities should consider amending their regulations to specifically address TDM and the conditions under which it is either required or recommended. This should include quantifiable standards against which proposed TDM program elements (to offset Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV) trips) can be measured. The following activities, coordinated closely with the CCRPC, should be undertaken to accomplish this:

Develop comprehensive model TDM development code provisions that the region's municipalities can use as a guide in developing their own regulations.
Conduct a series of workshops for planning commissions, development review board members, zoning boards, municipal planning staff, and the development community. Suggested topics to include:
- The benefits of TDM as a component of land development
- Approaches for including TDM requirements in the zoning regulations
- How to develop a TDM plan for an individual development
- How to conduct an impact assessment for SOV trips and trip reductions possible with TDM
- Approaches for public/private partnerships in land development incorporating TDM
- Monitoring and enforcement issues for TDM plans provided in association with development approvals
Information on TDM impacts from comparable communities, including results from local initiatives such as CATMA's, along with technical assistance from CCMPO planners, builds credibility for TDM's role in balanced transportation planning.
Develop a technical assistance program for Chittenden County communities to assist them with developing regulatory language, reviewing traffic impact analyses relative to TDM, and recommending TDM measures to be provided with a development proposal.
The CCMPO should approach the District #4 Environmental Commission to discuss:
- The CCMPO's TDM goals and how and when TDM can be consistently considered as a mitigation requirement for ACT 250 permit approval,
- The use of alternative performance measures for assessing traffic impacts, since the use of Level of Service (LOS) as a basis for measuring impacts tends to favor roadway design modifications as mitigation, and
- Issues of monitoring and enforcement to ensure that ACT 250 required TDM programs are implemented.

Longer term, decision-makers should explore additional public policy supports for TDM activities, including the use of tax credits for employers supporting reduced drive alone travel. Combined, land development regulations and other public policy supports for TDM communicate a regional consensus that travel options enhance Chittenden County's quality of life.

TDM LINKS:

National TDM and Telework Clearinghouse
Online TDM Encyclopedia

Contact Peter Keating at 802/660.4071 x14 for further information or to schedule training.