Bigger Bang for the Buck Panel Discussion: Improving the ROI on Transit Investments with TDM

What can TDM do? Attract New Rides Manage Peak Demand Respond Quickly to Changing Demands Provide Temporary Travel Measures Ensure Business Continuity

What can TDM do? Source: Cansult – TSI, May 2005 Impact of Transit Improvements on GHG Emissions (March 2005)

Attract New Riders Motivate individuals to choose transit –Financial incentives and loyalty Toronto – 12 months of free passes at new condos Mississauga – matching discount with employers Vancouver – universal transit pass at UBC, SFU –18 months: weekday trips up 54% and 84% –18 months: SOV trips down by 22% and 10% Canada – tax credit for transit riders Volume incentive programs

Attract New Riders Increase capacity at little cost –Modal integration GTHA: BikeLinx for bicycle racks on buses Active transportation links –Carpool parking at rapid transit

Attract New Riders Individualized marketing –Identify those most likely to take transit –Targeted marketing at trip ends –Portland, Oregon Transit marketing to households near new LRT line Transit trips increased by 44% with IM; 24% without –GTHA Big Move IM to every household near rapid transit approximately every three years

Manage Peak Demand

Alternative work arrangements –Ottawa (1974) “…Serious overtaxing of the bus transit system, particularly during brief periods in the morning and evening.” (Safavian and McLean, 1975) 33,000 federal employees on flexible time 50% of city’s workforce Manage Peak Demand CarTransit BeforeAfterChangeBeforeAfterChange AM50%47%-3%50%53%+3% PM57%55%-2%43%45%+2%

Manage Peak Demand Compressed Work Weeks –4/10 or 9/80 Telework Peak Period Pricing –Ottawa (discontinued) Fare premium during peak times Incentives –Seat guarantee and improved reliability

Respond Quickly Address capacity shortages until new infrastructure is in service Provide options in new areas before transit is introduced or extended Telework and carpooling can provide workforce continuity in a matter of days

Provide Temporary Measures Ease Disruptions (Construction, Events) –Incentives to prevent switch to SOV Temporary HOV Lanes Focused measures e.g. corridor Reprioritize modes for safety and efficiency –Route change Maximize use of alternates with capacity –Trip elimination programs

Provide Temporary Measures Denver –T-REX = 19 miles of new LRT and 17 miles of new highway TransOptions –Subsidies to employers and commuters –Marketing of options –Eligibility restricted to T-REX corridor –25% of commuters altered their travel time (50,000) –21% of commuters altered their routes –Flexible work schedules were #1 desire for work commuters during construction

Ensure Business Continuity Engage Private Involvement –Economic continuity –Private investment in transportation Continuity in transit operations –Service continuity –Emergency planning and operations E.g. office and support staff

Benefits Reduced Expenditures –TDM a fraction of the cost of new supply –Improved efficiency on sunken investments –Options where transit is not yet cost-effective Better Returns –More riders on Day 1 of new service –Reduced impact of disruptions –Ability to target the issue or population

Benefits Equity –Level the playing field across modes Environment –Strengthens transit’s position as ‘green’ Partnership –Can forge long-lasting partnerships Transit and TDM Supporters and stakeholders