Technical Memorandum: Interagency Contract Task #13, Technical Support for Travel Options Planning and Strategic Investment Alternatives, Subtask B: Best Practices on TDM Applications for Regional Implementation

Regional transportation planning has not traditionally incorporated travel demand strategies as a core principal for efficient planning, but progressive regions are implementing travel demand management (TDM) through regional plans and across funding sources and project implementation. In a study of national evidence on TDM program impacts in 2010, Cambridge Systematics found that in regions with low transit levels and free parking, combined TDM strategies can reduce vehicle trips by 3-7 percent. In areas of moderate transit with free parking, the rate jumps to 10 percent, or as high as 20 percent trip reductions in areas with paid parking. TDM programs can have a major effect on regional traffic, but the availability of transit as a travel option and paid vehicle parking as a disincentive for driving are a powerful combination for the traveling public. Regional planning partnerships, implementation of strong goals and objectives, and ongoing performance monitoring will help the TxDOT Austin District position the next set of improvements in the region's transportation system. Each of the best practices for TDM in regional planning is implementable but not without coordination across agencies and dedication of basic resources to get them done. The 10 best practices are not necessarily in sequential order; the most appropriate next steps in regional planning depend on when the region's planning documents are updated. For instance, the CAMPO 2040 Regional Transportation Plan was adopted in May 2015, so it might be most appropriate to begin performance monitoring steps in fall 2015.