Emphasizing TDM in Transportation

Planning Asher MercerTDM Summit

November 18, 2009

Slide 2

Background – York Region

Upper-tier municipality made up of 9 local municipalities

Coordinates Regional services

Over 1 million people 10% transit mode

split 42% of work trips

destined for Toronto

Slide 3

Establishing a new direction

2002 Transportation Master Plan led to a number of new initiatives and achievements

38% increase in York Region Transit ridership

Completing first phase of BRT system Adopting TOD Guidelines and a Pedestrian

and Cycling Master Plan Developing 3 TMAs in York Region through

Smart Commute Ped/cycling municipal funding program

created more than 40 km of bike facilities in 2 years

Slide 4

Transportation Master Plan Update – TDM at the forefront

Implement Regional and local municipal Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plans

Cap Road widenings to a maximum of 6 or 7 lanes Only when no other alternative exists Only for HOV/Transit

Initiate HOV 2+ lanes for 6-lane road segments

Implement Parking Authority

Parking Strategies in Regional Centres & on Regional Corridors - Maximum Parking Standards-Mandate the use of Preferential Carpool Parking

Pilot and implement individualized travel planning

Slide 5

TDM – The key element

Optimize roads 53% (358,000)Cars

Public transitYRT/Viva/GO

&

School bus

18%(121,000)

Reduce need to travel

2031Land Use & Other Policies

AM peak period trips

Carpooling

Walking & cycling

16%(108,000)

9%(61,000)

Alternative modes

65% (302,000)

10%(47,000)

14%(65,000)

6%(28,000)

2006

675,000465,000

5%(23,000)

4%(27,000)

Slide 6

Regional Official Plan Update – Conservation First

Sample Policies Require transportation studies and

development proposals to identify TDM measures to reduce SOV trips

Manage the supply of parking New developments must meet or exceed

Region’s TOD Guidelines Integrate pedestrian, cycling and transit

activities Local Municipalities must adopt land use/site

design policies that promote sustainable transportation

Slide 7

Regional Official Plan update – cont’d

Emphasizes reducing the demand for services Sections on Sustainability, Intensification,

Regional Centres and Corridors, New Communities and others weave TDM policies throughout OP

Establishes a hierarchy

Will update TOD Guidelines to include TDM requirements

Trip Reduction

Active Transportation

Transit

Roads

Slide 8

TDM Innovations – Blocks 11, 12, 18 Proposal for 7,200 single-family homes in

Vaughan Region required a TDM Master Plan with

several elements Carpool parking spots in commercial locations Pedestrian and bicycle network enhancements Direct connections to transit Transit and building street front integration “web-portal” providing real-time information on sustainable transportation

Slide 9

TDM Innovations – Web-portal

Real-time transit alerts Walking/cycling trip planner with impact

calculator Carpoolzone.ca ridematching Originally a dedicated “appliance”,

added mobile alerts Shifted to PC-based “widget” delivery,

and added social marketing component Landowners covering costs for

development and two years of operation

Slide 10

Web Portal Concept

Slide 11

Web portal Concept

Slide 12

TDM Innovation – Keswick Commuter Lot

Low density development in northern York Region

Developer required to prepare a TDM plan

temporary commuter parking lot – opened in 2008

York Region Transit shuttle service to GO Train Station

Advertising for carpool lot and Smart Commute Central York

Newspapers, brochures, billboard

Slide 13

Next Steps

Finalize Regional Official Plan update and work with local municipalities to harmonize their OPs

Update Development Charges by-law

Monitor existing pilots – Stay tuned!! Figure out:

How we pay for it Who delivers TDM?

Slide 14

Lessons Learned

Developers are still learning, but are receptive to TDM

Development applications are an opportunity to implement TDM

Be Proactive – Don’t wait for money Be flexible, persistent, and

committed Try more stuff!!!