Travel demand management : a toolbox of strategies to reduce single‐occupant vehicle trips and increase alternate mode usage in Arizona.

Obermann, William R. · 2012 · ROSA P / Arizona Transportation Research Center

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Summary

This report, prepared for the Arizona Department of Transportation, addresses the need to reduce single-occupant vehicle (SOV) trips and increase the use of alternative transportation modes in the urban areas of Phoenix and Tucson. The research aims to provide a comprehensive "toolbox" of Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategies tailored to these regions. The study was motivated by the broader definition of TDM adopted by the Federal Highway Administration, which includes not only traditional commuter incentives but also technological advances and non-commute travel management. The goal is to improve transportation system efficiency, manage congestion, and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by offering travelers viable alternatives to driving alone. The methodology involved a multi-faceted research effort that included studies of travel behavior in Phoenix and Tucson, reviews of national best practices and existing Arizona measures, and interviews with local and national TDM professionals. The report identifies five primary categories of TDM strategies: social and individualized marketing, telework, transit subsidies and promotional campaigns, parking management, and shuttle/circulator links to regional transit. For each category, the authors provide detailed descriptions, analyze case studies from various U.S. cities to demonstrate effectiveness, and outline specific opportunities for implementation in Arizona. Additionally, the report establishes a framework for developing performance measures to assess strategy effectiveness and discusses implementation challenges, including integration with land use, funding mechanisms (such as federal grants and local fees), and monitoring protocols. Key findings are derived from national case studies that illustrate the potential impact of these strategies. For instance, the "Drive Less Denver Challenge" demonstrated that social marketing could significantly reduce drive-alone mode share, with participants reducing their SOV trips by substantial margins and many planning to increase alternative mode usage long-term. Individualized marketing programs, such as those in Portland and St. Paul, showed significant increases in walking, bicycling, and transit use, alongside measurable reductions in VMT and greenhouse gas emissions. Telework programs, including those in Arizona and Georgia, were found to be highly effective at removing commute trips from roadways; for example, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s telework program resulted in an estimated annual VMT savings of over 5.6 million miles. The report also highlights that successful TDM requires a combination of providing competitive travel services, educating travelers, and using pricing mechanisms to balance demand. The significance of this report lies in its provision of a practical, evidence-based guide for transportation agencies in Arizona. By presenting a structured toolbox of strategies, performance measurement frameworks, and implementation guidelines, the report enables local governments to systematically reduce congestion and improve air quality. It emphasizes that TDM is most effective when strategies are integrated with the built environment and supported by diverse funding sources. The findings suggest that targeted marketing, employer-based telework, and improved transit connectivity can collectively shift travel behavior away from single-occupant vehicles, offering a sustainable approach to managing urban transportation demand in growing metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Tucson.

Key finding

Targeted TDM strategies, such as individualized marketing and telework programs, significantly reduce single-occupant vehicle trips and increase the use of alternative transportation modes.

Methodology

review

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• exposure measurement

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation