Monterey Active Transportation/Demand Management Plan

Monterey Active Transportation / Demand Management Plan

Monterey, California
Following a thorough existing conditions analysis, including GIS mapping of TDM supportive infrastructure, UrbanTrans developed a set of strategies tailored to the three distinct audiences.
UrbanTrans has been assisting the City of Monterey with development of an Active Transportation/Demand Management (AT/TDM )plan. A popular tourist destination that is also host to several academic and military institutions, Monterey was looking for ways to decrease single occupant vehicle travel and reduce peak period and seasonal congestion by developing targeted strategies aimed at three target audiences: in-commuting workers, students and visitors. Following a thorough existing conditions analysis, including GIS mapping of TDM supportive infrastructure, UrbanTrans developed a set of strategies tailored to the three distinct audiences. Because a transportation management association was deemed infeasible, UrbanTrans staff contributed to the development of a user-friendly online tool employers can use to determine which strategies are best suited for the type, size, and location of their organizations as well as their business priorities.

US 36 TDM Construction Mitigation Plan

US 36 TDM Construction Mitigation Plan

US-36 Corridor, Colorado
Program evaluation showed that transit ridership by employees working near park and rides increased by 67% as a result of program efforts. Individuals who participated in other subsidy programs decreased their commute drive alone rate by 34%. Overall, vehicle travel was reduced by more than 120,000 vehicle trips and 3 million VMT per year.

The US 36, which connects Denver to Boulder, went through a transformation that added managed lanes, bus rapid transit, bus-on-shoulder service and a regional bike path to the corridor.

UrbanTrans worked with 36 Commuting Solutions, a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) provider along the corridor, to develop a TDM construction mitigation plan to encourage travelers to choose sustainable travel modes during construction and prime the market to assure high utilization of planned services and infrastructure and provide long-term congestion relief. Development of the plan involved coordination with area employers, multiple government agencies and regional TDM implementers.

The plan’s recommendations include unique subsidies to encourage travel behavior change, a robust marketing plan, the creation of multiple districts where employees will be eligible for free transit passes, new tools to inform commuters of their travel options and methods for measuring the impact of the program on travel behavior.

Results:

Program evaluation showed that transit ridership by employees working near park and rides increased by 67% as a result of program efforts. Individuals who participated in other subsidy programs decreased their commute drive alone rate by 34%. Overall, vehicle travel was reduced by more than 120,000 vehicle trips and 3 million VMT per year.

Destination Medical Center Transportation Study and TMA Formation

Destination Medical Center Transportation Study and TMA Formation

Rochester, Minnesota
UrbanTrans developed recommendations regarding what TDM strategies should be provided and the organizational structure through which those strategies should be delivered.

UrbanTrans was part of a consulting team that worked with the city of Rochester to study investments in transit, active transportation, Transportation Demand Management (TDM), and parking management as part of a significant planning and economic development effort aimed at accommodating a two-fold increase in its downtown employment over a 20-year period.

Results:

UrbanTrans developed recommendations regarding what TDM strategies should be provided and the organizational structure through which those strategies should be delivered. UrbanTrans also assisted the city with the development of policies to encourage new developments to fund and implement TDM strategies that reduce parking demand and vehicle travel.

Simultaneous to our TDM planning work, UrbanTrans has helped the city plan and implement a pilot TDM program for city staff and subsequently launched a transportation management association to expand that program to other employers and employees within the city. Current efforts include surveying employees, identifying applicable TDM strategies, and developing and implementing marketing and educational efforts to encourage travel behavior change.

MassRIDES Program Support

MassRIDES Program Support

Massachusetts
MassRIDES hired UrbanTrans to build a model that predicts increases in transit ridership that would result from subsidizing TNC rides between commuters’ homes and nearby commuter rail stations in the Boston region.
UrbanTrans’ role in the MassRIDES Program Support project was three-fold:
Program Evaluation
UrbanTrans conducted an analysis of three evaluation methodologies in order to improve how program impacts are determined. Prior to our support, estimates of impacts on travel behavior and environmental quality primarily came from data collected through a state-wide ridematching and trip tracking tool. UrbanTrans analyzed the data collected through the tool and the methodology used to determine program impacts and provided recommendations to improve the analysis methodology. Our work included modeling program impacts using TRIMMS and conducting a survey of program participants. The survey data were used to build a statistical model to estimate program impacts that accounted for participant race, income, and work location. In addition, an analysis was conducted to determine what effect suburban versus urban locations had on program results.
TDM Toolkits
UrbanTrans assisted MassRIDES with the development of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) toolkits that are being used to educate employers and developers on the benefits of TDM programs. The toolkits are designed to assist developers and employers with the selection of TDM strategies that are applicable to their worksite or development that will result in measurable reductions in vehicle travel. Based on the success of the toolkits, UrbanTrans was asked to update them to cover a broader selection of employers and locations throughout the state.
TNC as a first mile solution
MassRIDES hired UrbanTrans to build a model that predicts increases in transit ridership that would result from subsidizing Transportation Network Company (TNC) rides between commuters’ homes and nearby commuter rail stations in the Boston region. The model controls for factors such as parking cost and availability, station access time and mode, differences in rail travel time versus vehicle travel time, vehicle trip cost savings, transit fares, and parking fees at transit stations and near work locations. It was used to evaluate stations throughout the Boston region and identify the top ten stations where TNC subsidies will yield the largest increases in transit ridership while requiring minimal net costs after accounting for new transit fare revenue.

RTD First-and-Last Mile Strategic Plan

RTD First-and-Last Mile Strategic Plan

Case Study
For Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD), building on a transit service that reaches more people effectively means facilitating efficient and safer connections from destination to destination. Covering more than 2,300+ miles and serving just over 3 million people, RTD sought a plan to guide future safety and access improvements to support first and last mile trips across 40 cities in and surrounding Denver, Colorado.
Leading a team of firms, UrbanTrans worked closely with RTD and the project planning advisory committee representing key stakeholders in the region to develop a comprehensive first and last mile strategy toolkit. The plan covers all modes of transportation, including improving access for transit, TNC pick-ups and drop-offs, pedestrians, bicyclists and micromobility users all while integrating TDM programs to complete the package of solutions.

Denver, Colorado
2018-2019
First and Last Mile
Planning

Results

The project team developed a methodology to put the first and last mile toolkit into action and identify the most suitable and practical strategies to improve station access. This methodology was applied to 15 representative stations across the district to showcase to local jurisdictions how they can perform their own analysis and generate recommendation for their stations. 

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Atlanta Regional Commission Bike-Transit Parking Best Practices Guidelines

Atlanta Regional Commission Bike-Transit Parking Best Practices Guidelines

Atlanta, Georgia
This task involved primary data collection using virtual reality 360 cameras to allow stakeholders to visually experience the transit stations without having to visit them. The virtual reality imagery also helped identify potential locations for bicycle parking facilities.
UrbanTrans was a key member of a team that developed a strategic bike-transit parking plan for the Atlanta Region. Our role was to develop a best practice guidebook for ARC to support the implementation of a regional bicycle parking at transit program. The team identified case studies from across the US and conducted interviews to understand how other agencies operate bike to transit programs and gather lessons learned in implementation. UrbanTrans also supported the team in conducting bicycle audits around major transit stations within the Atlanta region. This led to the development of access improvement plans and an understanding of current bicycle parking conditions. This task involved primary data collection using virtual reality 360 cameras. This visual data allowed stakeholders to experience the transit stations without having to visit them. The virtual reality imagery also helped identify potential locations for bicycle parking facilities. Results: The final best practices guidebook covered topics such as implementation costs, estimating use, recommended infrastructure types, membership models and marketing strategies. This project was a part of ARC’s wider “Walk!, Bike! Thrive!” plan, which won the Transportation Planning Excellence Award from the Federal Highway Administration in 2017.