The acronym TDM probably doesn't mean much to you yet, but you're going to be hearing it a lot over the next four-plus years of I-15 freeway renovation.
It stands for Transportation Demand Management, as participants in the Utah Transportation Department's workshop on commuting alternatives learned Thursday.Specifically, they learned that TDM "is any action that attempts to use the existing transportation infrastructure more efficiently by reducing vehicular travel, especially during peak periods."
Businesses that want to reduce the impact of the highway project on their employees and customers must know that the most effective things management can do include support and leadership of alternatives to car commuting, financial incentives (to not solo-drive to work) and changing employee parking practices.
Important, but less so, are legal requirements and support for specific services, such as carpooling.
Least important is the company's size, the density of its location (such as downtown), general support of management and alternative working arrangements (such as telecommuting.)
Some random precepts of TDM include:
- People will carpool if a time or financial advantage is there.
- TDM is not a panacea. It focuses on why people do what they do.
- There is no single factor that will reduce traffic; it is done through a large number of small things that add up to a significant impact.