In the News
PRESS RELEASE (3/20/14)
This project was conducted in collaboration with Friends of Caltrain, a Bay Area advocacy group for the Caltrain rail system. Its goals were to assess the historical trends in alternative mode share for populations living and working in proximity to Caltrain stations; and to recommend policy to the Bay Area that could encourage a growing percentage of these populations to pursue alternative transportation modes in the future. We have created a website that houses our findings, data, and other pertinent project information. An online, interactive map application was built to visualize changes in mode share over time. From the maps, we determined that there has been a recent spike in alternative mode use for residents who live near Caltrain, but employees who work near train stations do not share the same useage levels. Therefore, we conclude that policy implemented in the Bay Area should include residents but target employees. Most strongly, we recommend that municipalities along the Caltrain corridor introduce subsidized transit passes for employers to purchase for employees.
A study of transportation management associations (TMAs) was also conducted to assemble a list of best transportation demand management (TDM) practices to recommend to governments and TMAs in the Bay Area. We also found from our study that associations that foster close relationships with individual businesses to set policy tend to have the most success at reducing the number of commuters who drive to work. Therefore, we advise that TMAs in the Bay have point people that reach out to businesses in their respective jurisdictions. Finally, we advise that Caltrain boost its service to stations with high job density--College Park and Santa Clara--and redesign stations where land use patterns impede access to the platform--South San Francisco, Capitol, and Tamien.
For more information, please check out our website: caltrainmaps.weebly.com
Also, for a direct link to the online mapping application: bit.ly/CaltrainMaps
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email us at [email protected]
This project was conducted in collaboration with Friends of Caltrain, a Bay Area advocacy group for the Caltrain rail system. Its goals were to assess the historical trends in alternative mode share for populations living and working in proximity to Caltrain stations; and to recommend policy to the Bay Area that could encourage a growing percentage of these populations to pursue alternative transportation modes in the future. We have created a website that houses our findings, data, and other pertinent project information. An online, interactive map application was built to visualize changes in mode share over time. From the maps, we determined that there has been a recent spike in alternative mode use for residents who live near Caltrain, but employees who work near train stations do not share the same useage levels. Therefore, we conclude that policy implemented in the Bay Area should include residents but target employees. Most strongly, we recommend that municipalities along the Caltrain corridor introduce subsidized transit passes for employers to purchase for employees.
A study of transportation management associations (TMAs) was also conducted to assemble a list of best transportation demand management (TDM) practices to recommend to governments and TMAs in the Bay Area. We also found from our study that associations that foster close relationships with individual businesses to set policy tend to have the most success at reducing the number of commuters who drive to work. Therefore, we advise that TMAs in the Bay have point people that reach out to businesses in their respective jurisdictions. Finally, we advise that Caltrain boost its service to stations with high job density--College Park and Santa Clara--and redesign stations where land use patterns impede access to the platform--South San Francisco, Capitol, and Tamien.
For more information, please check out our website: caltrainmaps.weebly.com
Also, for a direct link to the online mapping application: bit.ly/CaltrainMaps
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email us at [email protected]