Commuter Services FDOT District One An Overview and Status Report TDM Summit December 5, 2008 Richard Dreyer and Margaret Dwyer
INTRODUCTION Who We Are: • Initiated in March 2007 • Florida Department of Transportation – District One • Unique Two-phased Approach • Collaborating with businesses, commuters, and local communities • Large and Diverse 12-county Region • Strategic Goals – centered on reducing traffic congestion and making it easier for everyone to 12 Counties of Southwest Florida get around FDOT District One
INTRODUCTION Background: • Tampa Bay • Sar/Man- • MPO • SCAT • Lee • LeeTran • Park and Ride Lots • Statewide Support 12 Counties of Southwest Florida FDOT District One
The Team Organization: • Florida Department of Transportation – District 1 • Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc. • URS Corporation, Inc.
Key Objectives #1 #2 #3 Facilitate Recognizable District-Wide Local Buy-in Program Approach & Consensus Identity #4 #5 Influence Implement Local Strategies & Policies Evaluate
Two Phase Approach Strategic and On-Going Planning Operational Program- Employer Outreach
Strategic Planning Strategic Plan Elements: • Stakeholders • Existing Situation • Policies • Goals • Regional Forums • Consensus • TDM Strategies
On-Going Planning Strategic Local FDOT Support Work Plans, Example, Policy, Evaluation, Policies, LDR’s, and Updates and Training and Training Three Areas of Planning
Activities Local Support: FDOT: • Inventory of Plans and Policies • Research Training Programs • Build a Library of Resources • Interviews with FDOT Staff • Sample Policy Language • Action Plan • Best Practices • Issues • Monitoring Regulations • Recommendations • Presentations • Sample • Meeting Attendance • Case Studies • One-on-One Discussions • Success Stories • Training Seminars • Developing Training Ideas • Reports • Reports
Accomplishments • Completed Strategic Plan • Extensive Stakeholder Interface • TDM Resource Library for Local Policies and Regulations • Monitoring and participating • In developing DRI Checklists • Impacts from Air Quality Standards and Green Initiatives
Accomplishments Providing assistance and guidance to local planners • informational brochure • restructuring policies to include more TDM strategies • best practices and sample policies or rules • Identifying and training TDM champions • Incorporating TDM into the DRI review process
Accomplishments Created a Park and Ride Lot locator map as a resource for the outreach staff and regional Partners. Developed guidance on incorporating TDM into the Congestion Management Process (CMP) of the MPOs. Presented information to several MPO Boards and Committees, a well as other groups.
Accomplishments Developed and Conducted a District-wide Seminar on incorporating TDM into local decision making. Developing a series of local seminars with specific local policy information. Identified a need to develop a TDM resource for the LRTP updates.
Accomplishments • Evaluating FDOT policies and procedures so they can be made more supportive of TDM strategies. • Promote TDM within FDOT through interviews and information sharing. • Working with the FDOT to develop comprehensive training program for staff. • Next: Marketing and Outreach Components
Who We Are: • Launched in September 2007 • Program of the Florida Department of Transportation – District 1 • Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier • Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry • 12-county region – new employer-based approach with planning/marketing emphasis • Rebuilding relationships and instituting a new approach • Collaborating with businesses, commuters, and local communities 12 Counties of Southwest Florida FDOT District 1 • Goals - reduce traffic congestion and make it easier for everyone to get around
Our Approach: • We work with local governments and transportation partners to help build better communities. • We work with businesses to help their employees find a better way to get to work than driving by themselves. • We provide our Partners with one-stop solutions: Improved mobility Enhanced benefits We work with business leaders, the Increased productivity community, and the traveling public Lower costs
Program Components: • Strategic Planning • Operational Features • Toll-Free Information Line: 866.585.RIDE • Rideshare Database • Geographic matching • 24-hour turnaround • Emergency Ride Home administration • Regional Outreach Program • Partnerships with businesses & key stakeholders • Marketing to commuters & employers • Annual Evaluations (CUTR) Helping commuters make informed transportation choices
Promoting Commute Options • Carpooling • Vanpooling • Bus Transit • Bicycling • Walking • Teleworking • Compressed Work Weeks • Flexible Work Hours • Parking Management Preferential Parking for carpoolers is one of many commute programs
Developing Worksite Programs • Continual program development • On-site matching • Commuter events • Transit promotions • Vanpool formation meetings • Preferential parking • Relocation assistance • Relationship maintenance • Worksite commuter surveys • Ongoing education program • On-site promotional events • Marketing tools • ETC Toolkit • Bulletin board announcements • Newsletter articles, • Memos and email reminders.
Why Partners Offer Commuter Programs • Economically beneficial • Increased productivity • Reduced absenteeism & health costs • Reduced parking & office space needs • Reduced costs from lower payroll taxes • Employee retention and recruitment • Relocations and downsizing; good for employee morale; low-or-no cost benefit Commuters Finding Alternatives • Environmental benefits • Green teams; sustainability programs; • Sarasota Health Care System, FDOT, Polk Community College, Sarasota County, City of Sarasota, University of South Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Lee County Clerk of Courts, MCC, • ACUPCC – University of South Florida; Florida Gulf Coast University
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design • Credits for New Construction Alternative Transportation , Public Transportation Access Credit 4.1 1 Alternative Transportation , Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms Credit 4.2 1 Alternative Transportation , Low-Emitting & Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Credit 4.3 1 Alternative Transportation , Parking Capacity Credit 4.4 1 • Credits for Existing Buildings Credit 4.1 Alternative Commuting Transportation, Demonstrate a 10% reduction 1 Credit 4.2 Alternative Commuting Transportation, Demonstrate a 25% reduction 1 Credit 4.3 Alternative Commuting Transportation, Demonstrate a 50% reduction 1 Credit 4.4 Alternative Commuting Transportation, Demonstrate a 75% or > reduction 1
Building Partnerships
Partner Case Examples Relocation Assistance • Consolidation of facilities in Collier and Lee Counties • Employee commute distances increasing 30+ miles one-way • Conducted week-long “one-on-one” meetings with staff to discuss program options • Carpools, owner-occupied vanpools, ERH, and park & ride lot outcomes Preferential Parking Program • Proactive ETC with regular events and marketing campaigns; gas card incentives as encouragement • Dedicated CP-only parking signs with permit stickers for employees’ windshields • Created a distribution scatter plot map to identify additional carpool potential • Scheduled an additional Lunch & Learn to reach out to employees one-on-one
Partners with Emergency Ride Home • Chico’s FAS • Lee County DOT Operations • Citrus Connection • Lee County Port Authority • City of Bartow • Marriott Vacation Club • City of Sarasota • Nielsen Media Research • Comcast • Pierce Manufacturing • Eaton Aerospace • Plymouth Harbor • FCCI Insurance • Polk County Property • Florida’s Natural Grower’s Appraisers • GC Services • Sarasota County • Gevity • Tropicana • Lee County BOCC • USF Polytechnic • Lee County Clerk of Courts • Winter Haven Hospital • Lee County Health Department • Polk County Sheriff
Recommendations for Getting Started • Become a registered program Partner • Hold a transportation event, commuter fair, or online survey to get initial employee feedback • Launch your program with a marketing campaign to publicize the Partnership and raise awareness among employees • Work with your Commuter Services Coordinator to determine your participation level and set goals for your program • Begin implementing your program plan We are working with more than 70 Employer and Stakeholder Partners
Recommend
More recommend
