RD292 - How Virginia Is Using Transit and Transportation Demand Management Programs to Address Highway Congestion and Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV) Travel


Executive Summary:
In 2010, the General Assembly requested an annual report regarding efforts undertaken in the Commonwealth to reduce single occupant vehicle (SOV) travel. This report is the second annual report, developed pursuant to § 33.1-223.2:24 of the Code of Virginia.

Virginia's transit and transportation demand management (TDM) community is comprised of a unique mix of public and private partners who work together in well-defined roles to accomplish a joint mission: to reduce SOV travel and peak time congestion. Because one strategy cannot change commuting behavior, Virginia's transit and TDM community has taken a holistic approach that includes a mix of strategies working together to encourage commuters to stop driving alone and try one of the multitude of transit and TDM options available in Virginia. These options include bus and rail service, carpool and vanpool options, and telework.

Over the years, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has worked with the transit and TDM community to refine and focus efforts to reduce SOV travel into strategic categories. The 2010 report first identified the top 10 strategies to reduce SOV travel, and this year's report builds on those strategies to provide further examples of how these strategies are working to reduce congestion on Virginia's highways.

Understanding the customer's needs is a critical first step to reducing SOV travel. By seeking customer feedback, Virginia transportation planners have been able to develop systems and services that address end-user needs to ensure those options prove successful.

Another key strategy has been to maintain and build upon Virginia's existing transit and TDM infrastructure. Virginia's investment in the "hardware" - vehicles and infrastructure - and the "software" - programs to inform and encourage system use - of transit and TDM allows individuals to experience more reliable transit service that also provides a convenient transportation option.

Virginia has taken steps to maximize the efficiency of its existing infrastructure. Embracing a multimodal approach has helped Virginia take steps towards a fully integrated and connected network of transportation options that will provide greater mobility than developing mega systems in a vacuum. At the same time, with the anticipated increase in population, Virginia is expanding and building new transit capacity. Because the existing transit and TDM system cannot sustain the anticipated increase in demand for transportation choices, Virginia has introduced new services into the transportation network and continues to evaluate potential service expansions in the future.

Virginia is working to provide new, innovative service delivery to capitalize on the advancement in technology and provide real-time information to commuters to make use of Virginia's transportation network as easy as possible.

Building awareness of the transportation options is a key component to changing behavior, and the transit and TDM community has dedicated resources to providing educational campaigns, promotional events and persuasive tactics to encourage Virginians to change the way they commute. In addition to building awareness of commuting options, Virginia is working to help commuters avoid travel all together through telework programs and incentives.

The transit and TDM community has worked to build stakeholder and employer awareness and support for transit and TDM services. Even commuters who do not take advantage of Virginia's transportation options benefit from these programs through reduced congestion. Employers understand that traffic congestion can lead to absenteeism, lost productivity, and higher recruitment and retention costs. By working to increase stakeholder and employer support and awareness of transportation choices, Virginia has built a base of appreciation and use of its robust transportation network.

Finally, as Virginia implements the aforementioned strategies, work continues to maximize existing funding levels and increase available funding to support transit and TDM services. Long-range strategic planning at the local, regional and state level has helped Virginia better plan for and invest in transportation options. At the same time, DRPT continues to evaluate current funding methodologies to determine a more efficient approach to maximize state investments.

There is no question that Virginia's top 10 strategies to reduce SOV travel have led to congestion reduction. Statewide ridership on transit systems in Virginia is up eight percent in May 2011 compared to May 2010, with many operators reporting a 10 percent increase during the same time period. State-supported Amtrak Virginia services continue to exceed monthly ridership goals; the Lynchburg Amtrak Virginia service saw a 30 percent increase in ridership in July 2011 compared to the same month last year. Approximately $1.3 billion is generated annually as a result of savings in household transportation costs, which can be re-invested into the economy. Since 2008, Virginia has achieved a decrease in drive alone work trips from 70 percent to 64 percent, and other transportation options, such as transit and carpool/vanpool services, have seen an increase In participation from 30 percent to 36 percent. Virginia's efforts to promote the use of telework as a commuting strategy are paying dividends. In Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth's most congested region, telework continues to increase, doubling since 2001 from 13 percent to 27 percent.

Over the next twenty years, the Commonwealth will experience dynamic demographic and social trends that will increase the demand for transportation choices. Virginia's population is expected to grow by 36 percent, a rate faster than the United States as a whole. Further, Virginia's population over the age of 65 will double by 2035, while we also welcome the Millennial generation to the workforce, a generation raised on technology. This younger generation is expected to want improved transportation choices, with the ability to live, work, and play within a short walk or transit trip of these activities.

In order for the Commonwealth to meet the future transportation demands, the entire transit and TDM community will be required to continue knowledge sharing across the transportation industry, continue education and build awareness of multimodal transportation options, inspire regional planning to integrate land-use decisions and transportation investment, deliver a quality transit service to existing and new riders, offer more employer incentives to encourage commuter benefit offerings, emphasize the impact transportation choices can have on economic development, and build investment in telework as the most cost effective strategy to reduce congestion.

DRPT and the transit and TDM community have made great progress to reduce SOV travel and peak time congestion. As the demand for transportation choices increases, we will continue to work together to deliver a connected, robust and varied transportation network, and will continue to advance the 10 key strategies to change commuting behavior to reduce congestion on Virginia's highways.