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Effective practices for car trip reduction

Adina Levin, Friends of Caltrain

June 2017

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Stanford University’s Pioneering Initiatives to Reduce Driving

Trip Cap required by Santa Clara County

Drivelone mode share reduced from 72% to 42%

Mode split

Drive: 42%
Caltrain: 24%

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More people, fewer cars

Saved $100,000,000

in parking structures never built

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Fewer carbon emissions

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Cities take charge to spread best practices

Strong trip and mode share goals for plan areas
Transportation Management Associations (nonprofit)
Manage programs to reduce vehicle trips, parking demand
Transit passes, shuttles, carpool, vanpool, carshare, more
Funding sources include employers, developments, parking revenues, grants, etc
Data and reporting

Established

Developing

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San Mateo Rail Corridor Plan

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San Mateo Rail Corridor Plan

Hayward Park to Hillsdale

25% trip reduction goal
Mixed use: commercial, residential, retail
Each project submits trip reduction goals & TDM plan
Transportation Management Association (TMA) manages TDM programs.
Annual reporting to Planning Commission, Council
100% goal compliance

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San Mateo Report to Council

Annual report to Council and Planning Commission shows how developments are performing on trip limits

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Palo Alto Downtown TMA

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Palo Alto Downtown TMA - Robust data on employee transportation

From Palo Alto TMA

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Palo Alto Downtown TMA - Data shows opportunities to invest in reduced driving

From Palo Alto TMA

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Solutions suggested by data

Pilot programs:

Providing 100 transit passes to service workers (mostly Caltrain)�
Scoop carpool�
Lyft Pilot providing discounts for Caltrain�first mile�

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Mountain View North Bayshore

Precise Plan sets strong goals for trip limits and mode share required of new development

Goals used to refine transportation projects

TMA collects funding, operates last-mile shuttles

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Mountain View North Bayshore Plan

Updating plan to add housing�
Adding housing & services near jobs would reduce vehicle miles travelled per person by ~7%�
Experts recommended at least 5,000 housing units to support robust services

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Menlo Park General Plan

Focus on aging industrial park area near Facebook, Belle Haven neighborhood, Bay restoration
After input from community, businesses, experts, decided on “live-work-play” mix of uses
5500 units of housing, 4500 newly allowed, with services

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Menlo Park General Plan

Option with more housing results in less driving

Less GHG emissions
Less pollution

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Brisbane Baylands

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Brisbane Baylands

Current draft has weak goals for car trips - 80%+ driving�Alternatives with Housing - 40K Less Trips, 20% lower GHG emissions

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The Congestion Relief Treadmill

More people drive

Congestion

Widen roadway

Faster driving

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Widen roads to reduce congestion

Fast driving, less safe/comfortable to walk/bike

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Design to reduce congestion

Fast driving, less safe/comfortable to walk/bike

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Design to reduce congestion

Fast driving, less safe/comfortable to walk/bike

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Design for easy access

Fast driving, less safe/comfortable to walk/bike

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Design for easy access

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Transportation is largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in CA

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SB743 - CEQA update

Changes how transportation impact is measured under CEQA
Replaces LOS (measure of congestion) with Vehicle Miles Traveled per person
VMT correlated to GHG emissions and particulate pollution
LOS discourages infill
LOS encourages widening roads, making walking, biking, transit less safe and appealing

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Summary - practices to reduce trips

Set mode share goal / trip cap
Require monitoring and reporting
Housing near jobs and services reduces car trips per person
SB743 update - Nexus study and funding plan to reduce vehicle trips