Campus Transport Management
Trip Reduction Programs on College, University and Research Campuses
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TDM
Encyclopedia
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
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Updated
August 28, 2007
This chapter describes how to
manage transportation on college, university and research campuses to increase
system efficiency and reduce problems such as traffic congestion, parking
facility costs, user costs and environmental impacts.
Campus Transport Management programs are coordinated efforts to improve transportation options and reduce trips at colleges, universities and other campus facilities. TDM tends to be particularly effective and appropriate in such settings. It is often more cost effective than other solutions to local traffic and parking problems, and students and employees often value having improved transportation choices.
Campus TDM programs can include:
·
Transit Improvements and Fare Discounts.
·
Parking Pricing and Parking
Management.
·
Commute Trip Reduction programs that include Alternative Work Schedules, Telework
and Guaranteed Rides Home.
·
Traffic Calming and Car Free
Planning.
·
Marketing and Promotional Campaigns.
·
Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements.
·
Universal Design (transportation systems that
accommodate people with disabilities and other special needs).
·
Programs to Address Security Concerns of
pedestrians and cyclists.
·
Recreation activity and Special Event transport
management.
·
A Transportation Access Guide that concisely
describes how to reach the campus by walking, cycling and transit.
·
Applying Smart Growth and New
Urbanist principles to on-campus development that reduces the need for
travel.
An increasing number of colleges and universities offer free or significantly discounted transit passes to students and sometimes staff (called a “UPASS”). The table below summarizes the costs and impacts of several UPASS programs. Students voted overwhelmingly (most referenda received 75% or more approval) to support many of these programs, even though it increases their fees.
Table 1 UPASS Program Summary (Brown, Hess and Shoup, 1998)
|
University |
Year Began |
Who May Ride Free |
Eligible
Riders |
Annual
Program Cost |
Annual Rides |
Cost Per
Eligible Person |
Rides Per
Eligible Person |
Average Cost
per Ride |
Ridership
Increase |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4)=(2)/(1) |
(5)=(3)/(1) |
(6)=(2)/(3) |
(7) |
|
|
1969 |
Students, faculty,
staff, emeritus |
35,200 |
$177,700 |
296,600 |
$5 |
8 |
$0.60 |
|
|
|
1977 |
Students |
30,000 |
$275,000 |
600,000 |
$9 |
20 |
$0.46 |
|
|
|
1985 |
Students, faculty,
staff, emeritus |
17,500 |
$169,000 |
531,700 |
$10 |
30 |
$0.32 |
|
|
Appalachian |
1980 |
Students, faculty,
staff |
13,200 |
$251,000 |
361,800 |
$19 |
27 |
$0.69 |
|
|
|
1995 |
Students, faculty,
staff |
31,200 |
$650,000 |
1,536,900 |
$21 |
49 |
$0.42 |
60% |
|
|
1986 |
Students |
17,400 |
$400,200 |
584,800 |
$23 |
34 |
$0.68 |
6% |
|
|
1995 |
Students |
12,000 |
$277,000 |
525,500 |
$23 |
44 |
$0.53 |
36% |
|
|
1969 |
Students, faculty,
staff |
39,000 |
$972,300 |
807,500 |
$25 |
21 |
$1.20 |
|
|
|
1997 |
Students |
48,300 |
$1,400,000 |
|
$29 |
|
|
300% |
|
|
1996 |
Students |
39,000 |
$1,200,000 |
1,600,000 |
$31 |
41 |
$0.75 |
|
|
Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and |
1983 |
Students, faculty,
staff |
32,000 |
$1,100,000 |
1,400,000 |
$34 |
44 |
$0.79 |
|
|
Auraria Higher |
1994 |
Students |
31,500 |
$1,204,000 |
1,965,000 |
$38 |
62 |
$0.61 |
|
|
|
1990 |
Students |
18,500 |
$719,000 |
1,800,000 |
$39 |
97 |
$0.40 |
255% |
|
|
1993 |
Students |
27,000 |
$1,060,000 |
|
$39 |
|
|
|
|
|
1991 |
Students, faculty,
staff |
24,500 |
$1,000,000 |
1,500,000 |