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Noncommute Trip Reduction

This page is dedicated to identifying the latest research and programs on applying TDM tactics for noncommute trips (e.g., school trips, shopping, etc.)

Reducing Vehicle Trips and Vehicle Miles of Travel Through Customized Travel Options
This Florida Department of Transportation Research Center- funded project conducted by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida was designed to implement a new application to help reduce total vehicle trips and vehicle miles of travel by encouraging the use of trip-chaining and substitution for all types of trips. CUTR provided employees of a local YMCA with travel diaries and implemented a three-stage research design:

Collect baseline travel data
Provide experimental group with customized travel suggestions, while not providing this information to control group
Collect travel data after providing the suggestions.

A total of 75 individuals in 39 households participated in the research. An analysis of covariance was conducted on the average contributed vehicle miles of travel and contributed vehicle trips, using the second week’s results as the dependent variable. The provision of suggestions had a statistically significant effect on vehicle miles and trips contributed. Overall, this experiment showed that the provision of travel information will reduce vehicle miles of travel. Further research should be conducted to indicate the extent to which such information needs to be customized.

School Pool Programs
Provides a description of programs designed for reducing congestion and improving safety at schools.

National Center for Transit Research's National TDM and Telework Clearinghouse is located at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida