[sustran] News Release - Online TDM Encyclopedia
Todd Litman
litman at vtpi.org
Fri Mar 9 02:40:18 JST 2001
8 March 2001
For Immediate Release
* NEWS RELEASE *
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Online TDM Encyclopedia
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The first comprehensive Internet tool for Transportation Demand Management
planning is now available free at the Victoria Transport Policy Institute
website.
* * * * *
The VTPI Online TDM Encyclopedia is a unique new resource that provides
comprehensive information about Transportation Demand Management (TDM). It
is available free at the Victoria Transport Policy Institute (VTPI)
website: http://www.vtpi.org.
Transportation Demand Management is a general term for strategies that
encourage more efficient travel patterns. The Online TDM Encyclopedia is
designed to help transportation professionals identify, plan, implement and
evaluate TDM options. It is the only website that has comprehensive
information on TDM in an easy-to-use format, with hyperlinks to access
additional resources.
"There are many innovative management strategies that could help solve
common transportation problems, but they are not being widely implemented
simply because decision makers know little about them," explains VTPI
Director, Todd Litman. "The Encyclopedia allows us to share information
about these solutions in a way that is highly accessible. We originally
envisioned one or two pages describing about 20 TDM strategies, but the
project just kept expanding to incorporate more features and materials."
The Encyclopedia has detailed information on more than three-dozen TDM
strategies, plus sections on TDM program planning and evaluation. In all,
it contains more than 60 chapters and more than 700 pages of text. It
incorporates hundreds of Hyperlinks to provide users with instant access to
references and resources. This information is regularly expanded and updated.
The following information is provided on each TDM strategy:
· A description.
· How the strategy can be implemented.
· Travel impacts.
· Benefits and costs.
· Equity impacts.
· Applications (where it is most appropriate).
· Stakeholders.
· Barriers to implementation.
· Best practices
· Case studies.
· Information resources (many available through the Internet).
Each strategy is rated according to its ability to help achieve various
transportation improvement objectives (congestion reduction, road safety,
consumer choice, environmental protection, etc.), its travel impacts,
equity impacts, and appropriateness in various geographic and
organizational conditions. These ratings can help users identify which
strategies are most suitable to consider in a particular situation.
The Encyclopedia also contains technical information on evaluation methods,
transportation price elasticities, land use impacts on travel behavior,
economic impacts, equity analysis, safety impacts, and sustainable
transportation issues.
* * * * *
BACKGROUND: WHAT IS TDM?
Transportation Demand Management is a new approach to solving
transportation problems. Although some TDM strategies are well known, they
are usually considered as a solution to a specific problem, rather than as
part of a comprehensive plan with multiple benefits.
Transportation Demand Management strategies tend to have synergistic
effects: they are most effective when implemented in a coordinated program.
The Online TDM Encyclopedia emphasizes an integrated approach to TDM
planning, providing information on strategies that are complementary, and
resources for creating coordinated TDM policies and programs.
Comprehensive TDM planning requires a fundamental change in the way
transportation professionals think about transportation problems and
evaluate solutions. It means that strategies and programs which increase
transportation system efficiency be considered equally with investments
that increase transportation system capacity. It also requires
comprehensive analysis that considers the full benefits and costs of each
option.
Transportation Demand Management solutions tend to provide multiple
benefits. They can reduce traffic congestion, reduce road and parking
facility costs, increase road safety, expand consumer choice, provide
consumer savings, protect the environment, support efficient land use, and
help achieve equity objectives. Conventional transportation planning tends
to focus on a limited set of objectives, and so ignores many of these
benefits. As a result, TDM strategies tend to be undervalued, while
conventional solutions may be implemented that help solve one problem but
exacerbate others.
The Online TDM Encyclopedia helps users identify which TDM strategies are
most appropriate in a particular application. It offers guidelines for
determining when TDM solutions are most cost effective, and which
combinations of strategies are most efficient in a particular situation.
With hundred of Hyperlinks, the Encyclopedia allows users to quickly gather
information on suitable and complementary strategies.
"Transportation Demand Management creates a more diverse and
resource-efficient transportation system," says Litman. "This can help
solve specific transportation problems, such as traffic congestion and
pollution, while saving money for communities and consumers. TDM programs
also tend to increase travel options for people who are transportation
disadvantaged. When all benefits and costs are considered, TDM is often the
most cost effective way to improve transportation."
"This is not to deny the significant challenges to Transportation Demand
Management implementation," explains Litman. "Conventional transportation
institutions treat TDM as a last resort, to be used when traditional
solutions are impractical. For TDM to achieve its full potential benefits,
transportation planning and funding practices must change to consider TDM
as a potential component of any transportation plan. The Online TDM
Encyclopedia provides practical information on how to overcome barriers to
TDM implementation."
* * * * *
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Online TDM Encyclopedia Index
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OVERVIEW
· About This Encyclopedia
· Criticism of TDM
· Evaluating TDM Equity
· Evaluating Transportation Choice
· Market Principles - TDM Impacts on Market Efficiency and Equity
· Measuring Transportation
· Safety Impacts of TDM
· Social Benefits of Public Transit
· Sustainable Transportation and TDM
· TDM and Economic Development
· TDM Evaluation - Assessing Benefits and Costs
· The Takeback Effect
· Why Manage Transportation
· Win-Win Transportation Solutions
POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
· Car-Free Planning
· Comprehensive Transportation Market Reforms
· Institutional Reforms
· Least Cost Planning
· Regulatory Reform
TDM PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
· Access Management
· Campus Transportation Management
· Data collection and Participant Surveys
· Commute Trip Reduction Programs
· Freight Transportation Management
· School Trip Management
· Special Event Management
· TDM Marketing
· TDM Programs
· Tourist Transport Management
· Transportation Management Associations (TMA)
IMPROVED TRANSPORT CHOICE
· Address Security Concerns
· Alternative Work Schedules
· Bicycle Improvements
· Bike/Transit Integration
· Carsharing/Vehicle Rentals
· Compressed Work Week
· Flextime
· Guaranteed Ride Home
· Nonmotorized Improvements
· Park & Ride
· Pedestrian Improvements
· Ridesharing
· Shuttle Services
· Tele-Access
· Traffic Calming
· Transit Improvements
INCENTIVES TO USE ALTERNATIVE MODES AND REDUCE DRIVING
· Bicycle and Pedestrian Encouragement
· Congestion Pricing
· Distance-Based Fees
· Commuter Financial Incentives
· Fuel Tax Increases
· High Occupant Vehicle (HOV) Preference
· Parking Pricing
· Road Pricing: Congestion Pricing, Road Tolls and HOT Lanes
· Street Reclaiming
· Vehicle Use Restrictions
LAND USE AND PARKING MANAGEMENT
· Car-Free Districts and Pedestrianized Streets
· Location Efficient Development
· New Urbanism
· Parking Management
· Parking Solutions
· Parking Policy Evaluation
· Smart Growth
· Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
REFERENCE INFORMATION
· Evaluating Nonmotorized Transport
· Land Use Impacts on Transport
· Resources - Publications and Websites
· Transportation Costs
· Transportation Elasticities
· Trip Reduction Tables
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ABOUT VTPI
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research
organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation
problems. The VTPI website has numerous information resources addressing a
wide range of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides
consulting services.
For more information contact:
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
E-mail: litman at vtpi.org
Website: http://www.vtpi.org
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