TDM overview 

Powered by SANDAG, iCommute is the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program for the San Diego region. TDM refers to programs and strategies that manage and reduce traffic congestion by encouraging the use of transportation alternatives rather than driving alone, such as walking, biking, taking transit, carpooling, vanpooling, working flexible schedules, and teleworking. These programs reduce overall vehicle miles traveled (VMT), make more efficient use of the existing transportation network, and maximize movement of people and goods.

An individual traveler’s mode choice - be it auto, carpool, vanpool, transit, walking, or biking - is significantly influenced by how communities are designed and developed. Smart growth development can reduce the need for vehicle travel for daily trips, and available parking supply and/or pricing can encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation.

Inclusion of TDM in the local planning and development process offers a broad range of economic, environmental, and public health benefits. TDM:

• maximizes returns on infrastructure investments – TDM reduces the need for new or widened roads, which are costly to construct and maintain. Additionally, TDM is a cost-effective way to build capacity in a community’s transportation system by expanding use of alternative modes (carpools, vanpools, transit, biking, walking, and teleworking).

• reduces parking demand – TDM, when incorporated into development, reduces single occupant vehicle (SOV) trips and parking demand, decreasing the cost and burden for jurisdictions and developers to provide more parking capacity.

• helps meet environmental and air quality goals – TDM improves air quality by encouraging commute alternatives to the SOV, which in turn reduces traffic congestion and corresponding vehicle-related emissions. TDM also can help to preserve green space by reducing the amount of land needed for roads and parking facilities, encouraging more efficient land use patterns, and decreasing storm water management costs.

• is adaptable and dynamic – TDM can be customized for specific events, neighborhoods, corridors, worksites, and timeframes. Unlike new infrastructure, TDM programs can easily adapt and respond to economic and population changes.

Need assistance? - iCommute provides support and tools to help your jurisdiction plan, design, and implement a customized TDM program. For more information, call 511 and say “iCommute” or email [email protected].