Transportation Demand Management

A market economy. Supply and demand.   What have these concepts to do with urban transportation?

Travellers base their choice of mode on perceived cost, convenience and all too often habits formed over long experience. In the past, pent-up demand for faster travel has out-paced population growth and quickly filled new lanes with traffic.

The new challenge is to provide cost effective transportation options that reflect the true costs to society of our individual travel choices. New technology could reduce harmful emissions produced by urban travel. While the harmful environmental effects of individual auto use is expected to diminish the overall amount of urban travel is expected to dramatically increase. Urban travel will increase the demand for more capacity and more and more of our tax dollars will be spent maintaining our roads. Although vehicle emissions may be reduced per vehicle kilometre, the total number of kilometres travelled and the time and money spent on urban travel will increase.

Is co-operation the answer? Competition for scarce resources can lead to inequity and disadvantage. Competition for limited roadway capacity leads to congestion and increased travel time for everyone. Avoiding unnecessary auto trips or using alternative modes for necessary trips reduces demand for roadway space and increases the effectiveness of the street system. This allows faster and more efficient travel opportunities for everyone.
The result of cooperation is a transportation system that meets the needs of the present without compromising the well being of future generations.

Traffic Demand Management (TDM) is a strategy that will reduce auto trips and provide travel alternatives. HRM Transportation Service's GoPlan Study has endorsed TDM measures because they are a cost effective way reduce traffic congestion. Some measures like urban growth management cost virtually nothing yet can save taxpayers millions of dollars every year. Inexpensive devices can monitor individual use of our roads and highways, generating revenue based on actual road use. The positive effects of good planning accumulate because effective planning sets a pattern that lasts for many years.The planning decisions we make today will affect the shape and economic well-being of our communities for years to come.

GoPlan concluded that the combined effect of several TDM initiatives can have the same benefits as any one of a number of expensive road building options.

Traffic Demand Management initiatives allow us to choose travel alternatives that work!

• Pedestrian and Cycling Facility Enhancements
• Ride sharing Programs
  - Satellite Parking Lots
  - Preferred Parking
  - Ride-matching
  - Parking Management
  - Park and Ride
• Transit Incentives
  - Fare Subsidisation
  - Fare Purchasing Options
• Road Policy and Vehicle Restrictions
  - Bus-only Lanes
  - HOV Lanes
  - Toll Roads
• Alternative Work Hours
• Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS)
• Telecommuting
• Urban Growth Management