SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1
T&T COMMITTEE AGENDA
MARCH 11, 1997
POLICY REPORT
TRAFFIC
Date: January 28, 1997
Dept. File No.4001
CC File No. 5560-1
TO: Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Transportation Demand Management
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the report on Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
outlining a strategy that includes:
- Regional Trip Reduction Service in the short term;
- Comprehensive Parking Management and
Usage-Based automobile insurance and
licenses in the medium term; and
- Road pricing/tolling in the longer term
be endorsed.
B. THAT specific implementation plans for each of the TDM
strategies be submitted to Council for review and comment.
C. THAT the TDM Program be included in the soon to be initiated
negotiations on regional transportation governance and
funding.
COUNCIL POLICY
The Clouds of Change Report (1990) supports the use of Transportation
Demand Management techniques.
Council supported the Transport 2021 Regional Transportation Plan in
principle, which relied in turn on Transportation Demand Management as
one key policy of the plan.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to inform Council of the September 1996
report regarding the implementation of various Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) measures in the region. This report was prepared for
the GVRD TDM Steering Committee and is on file with the City Clerk. An
overview of the TDM report and the recommendations are attached as
Appendix A. Additional reports are also being prepared, and the GVRD
will be providing a briefing to an upcoming meeting of this Committee.
BACKGROUND
Transportation Demand Management measures are those which suppress the
generation of trips or encourage these trips to be made by modes other
than the Single Occupancy Vehicle.
Vancouver has had a history for over 20 years of supporting
transportation demand management programs. Restrictive parking
standards and traffic calming began in 1973. Experimenting with
car-pooling began with the Project Turn-Down Traffic Volume in the
mid-seventies. Transportation demand methods began in earnest in the
United States in the mid-80's.
In February 1992, Council reviewed a Traffic Management Bylaw, as
recommended in the Clouds of Change report, but recommended that TDM be
developed as a Regional Program where a co-ordinated approach among all
municipalities would have greater effect.
On April 12, 1994, Council approved Transport 2021, the Regional
transportation Strategy, which includes four ways to deal with
population and travel increases. TDM is one of the strategies and, if
implemented in a strategic way, could produce about a 10% reduction in
the number of peak hour vehicle trips in 2021, compared with the "base
case" trend forecast. This is significant because the displaced trips,
in part, would contribute to a substantial increase in transit ridership
in 2021.
DISCUSSION
A GVRD Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Steering Committee has
been formed as a follow-up to the direction of Transport 2021, and
including municipal representation from Vancouver and Coquitlam. This
Committee has produced a report which outlines short, intermediate and
long term strategies.
a) Short Term (1 - 2 years)
Introduction of a regional Trip Reduction Service that wouldprovide
services that promote alternatives to the single occupant vehicle.
A draft report is currently being finalized on this topic.
Recommended measures include a carpool matching service, employer
information programs, vanpooling, etc.
b) Medium Term (3-5 years)
This program would include Comprehensive Parking Management which
would establish regional co-ordination and direction in the setting
of prices and availability of parking.
The feasibility of Variable Insurance and License Payment Methods
is also being investigated (changing on a per kilometre travelled
basis, thereby raising the marginal cost of using a vehicle).
c) Long Term (after 6 years)
This would include Road Pricing and Tolls. However, significant
policy development and planning work will have to be undertaken
prior to implementation. Transport 2021 intends that tolling be
applied in some systematic, Regional way to generate a source of
funding for transit. Tolling was not intended to be collected to
maintain specific facilities.
The GVRD report also includes a survey of public opinions which are
fundamental to dealing with travel changes. Comments by respondents to
this survey include:
- expressed concerns about traffic congestion
- viewed more transit as necessary
- viewed single occupant vehicles a problem
- supported a priority for 3 or more person carpools
- supported voluntary measures to reduce trips
- expressed mixed views on how to pay for improvements.
An immediate concern is to provide a clear structure and dependable
funding for ongoing TDM programs. At present, these programs are
scattered among a number of agencies, and funding is not identified
beyond the current year.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this report is consistent with established City policy.
The GVRD now intends to prepare and seek funding for 1997 and beyond,
and to proceed with implementation of the three-stage strategy.
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