February 15, 2017 - Issue #104  Follow us on Twitter View our profile on LinkedIn Like us on Facebook View our videos on YouTube
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This month, a number of news items have highlighted the ongoing importance of transportation demand management as a tool to address congestion issues. A biennial report from downtown Seattle shows how TDM efforts and transit improvements are keeping drive-alone commutes at 30 percent while transit ridership rises. Noted below, San Francisco is investing in a future of developments that guide transportation choices. And in the D.C. region, the return of SafeTrack (and disappearance of the Blue line) has again emphasized the importance of transportation options and clear, understandable transit information.
MOBILITY LAB'S TOP STORIES
#1: Building a transit army: How MARTA Army is working to improve Atlanta's bus stops  Follow us on Twitter   Like us on Facebook

In the Atlanta metro region, advocacy group MARTA Army is getting neighbors to take simple steps towards improving the the MARTA bus system. These tactical urbanism campaigns have already brought bus schedules and trash cans to hundreds of stops.

Speaking at last month's TransportationCamp DC, MARTA Army executive director Simon Berrebi explained how the group's grassroots model could be adapted to any city. Read the story.
#2: Communities can benefit from autonomous vehicles through "fast action planning"  Follow us on Twitter  Like us on Facebook

What would it take for an AV shuttle to start moving people in Northern Virginia? The concept might seem years away, but contributors Lisa Nisenson and Kelley Coyner argue new planning models could bring an early AV option to communities in a more efficient process.

At the Eno Center for Transportation's Capital Convergence event, the two led attendees in an exercise outlining what steps providers and agencies can take to identify and address legal and policy barriers to new services.  Read the story.
#3: To the Rockies and back - without a car  Follow us on Twitter   Like us on Facebook

Contributor Jana Lynott set a goal for a family ski trip: go the entire vacation without driving a car. Together with her son, she set off along a series of plane, bus, and shuttle transfers to travel from D.C. to their Colorado ski resort. 

But the trip-planning necessary to make that happen should not have to be so time-consuming. Private operators and transit agencies already have the necessary tools to publish open schedule and route information that would simplify car-free travel.  Read the story.
#4: New services are moving fast, and cities are looking to update procurement processes to keep up   Follow us on Twitter   Like us on Facebook

Generally regarded as outdated and slow, the traditional processes by which cities select and contract with transportation services have been proving a barrier to working with new, fast-moving transportation services like Lyft and Bridj. 

And not only are cities struggling to adapt to tech companies' models - the confusion can flow both ways. Additionally, technology-based services may often be unclear as to how best to approach cities themselves.  Read the story.
TDM SUPERSTARS OF THE WEEK
San Francisco

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors approved the city's Transportation Demand Management Program last week, establishing a system through which new buildings of 10 or more units will be required to include amenities that encourage non-driving trips. Developers will choose from a "menu" of options, including secure bike parking and carshare memberships, with points allotted per option. Through this arrangement, San Francisco hopes to make the process more predictable and transparent for developers.

Arlington's Champions participants

Last week, Arlington Transportation Partners recognized the 221 participants of its Champions program, which works with employers and property managers to offer commuter benefits and other transportation amenities. Of the Champions, 45 reached the gold or platinum tier. The event highlighted the emphasis Arlington County businesses, developers, and schools place on promoting non-driving options for residents and workers.

TDM TIP OF THE WEEK
Though it's already understood that transit-oriented developments don't need much parking, a new study from Smart Growth America suggests that even that low number of spaces is too much. In an analysis of five TODs, SGA found the peak parking occupancy to be at least 33 percent below predicted levels. This suggests that cities and developers may want to reconsider their parking and driving assumptions for future TOD plans - a change that could save land and costs of parking construction.

UPCOMING EVENTS