An Incentive-Based Approach to Curbing Automobile Use in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area

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1 An Incentive-Based Approach to Curbing Automobile Use in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Emily Freimuth Daniel Selden Andrew Kimmel Brendan Shera

2 The Problem Urban Sprawl Increased Commuting from Suburbs Via Automobiles Increased Overall Transportation

3 Narrowing the Problem We chose to focus our study on what could be done in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Why? (1) Urban sprawl poses a particularly significant problem in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. (2) The unique structure of metropolitan governance in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area represents a challenge to forming effective transportation policy.

4 Urban Sprawl in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area This sprawl has been fueled by recent job and population growth in the region. This growth is predicted to continue. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

5 Transportation Operation Metropolitan Washington Area Transit Authority (MWATA) - Established by Act of Congress - Non-federal - Quasi-governmental - Multi-jurisdictional - Owns and operates Metrorail and Metrobus

6 Outline Three economic incentive-based approaches that we believe can be applied successfully in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area New Rider Education Cash-Out Option Bus Rapid Transit

7 New Rider Education

8 New Rider Education Two Types of Non-Riders Public Transportation Transfer Anxiety Pessimists Sufferers

9 New Rider Education A Case Study Minneapolis/St. Paul Area Metro Transit

10 New Rider Education A Case Study June 2001 The Twin Cities unemployment rate, 4.3% (DEED 2006). Metro Transit s reported annual loss of ridership, 9.7% (USDT 2006). September 2001 The Twin Cities unemployment rate, 4.7% (DEED 2006). Metro Transit s reported annual loss of ridership, 1.8 % (USDT 2006). Net annual loss of ridership decreased 7.9% in four months. How did Metro Transit do it?

11 New Rider Education A Case Study Personal and Economic Incentives A Hot Line (1.800.NEW.RIDER) was established A large scale ad campaign was launched The slogan No Question is a Dumb Question was promoted Public presentations Free one-week passes

12 New Rider Education What can Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority do to emulate the success Metro Transit attained in Minneapolis?

13 Parking Prices A Cash-Out Option

14 Why Drive? Every commute has a cost True cost is not reflected Government subsidies Subsidies from firms 8-10% of GNP 1 Rational Economic Decision? To drive to work Our Goal? Change that decision by reduction or elimination of the subsidy 1 Duany (2000)

15 Cashing Out Parking heavily subsidized People like money SO Convert parking subsidy per employee into tax exempt cash payment AND OFFER A CHOICE Continue to receive Free Parking Accept a higher paycheck Whichever is valued more by an employee: rational economic decision Keep driving or find an alternative means to work Carpool, Transit, Walking

16 Looking at Examples Before and After Cashing Out California Commuter Mode Share 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Solo Driver Carpool Transit Walk Bycicle Before After Mode of Choice

17 How does this help? Increase in carpools Increase in transit trips Reduction of peak hour traffic and CONGESTION BUT Latent Demand Available Parking Spots Two Interesting Results: Access to Central Business District Women Drivers Needs to be coupled with other incentives to reduce actual auto use

18 Looking Abroad Effect of Doubling Parking Price Great Britain Change in Trips by Each Mode 20% 10% 0% -10% Reading -20% -30% Sheffield Leeds Car Bus Walk+Rail Location Average: Car -17% Bus 10% Walk+Rail 10%

19 Infrastructure Based Incentives Bus Rapid Transit

20 Infrastructure Based Incentives Communities wish to increase ridership Rail greatly preferred to busses in new riders in DC (55% vs. 32%) At the same time, MetroBus more available than any other public transit service in DC. Most bus non-riders think it takes too much time (33%).

21 Curitiba Curitiba is a large Brazilian city, long regarded as one of the most sustainable in South America Lacks a subway/light rail system, however Subway viewed as too costly for city s budget

22 Growth Corridors Curitiba s city plan, like those of DC or Paris is radially based Avenues radiating off a central point In Curitiba, these avenues are used as corridors for growth along which business and developments are concentrated Leaves space available for parks, pedestrian plazas

24 Bus Rapid Transit Curitiba s city planners developed innovative bus system to mimic amenities of light rail at a fraction of the cost Dedicated lanes Bus Stations pay to enter bus stop, not to enter bus Speeds up system, increases desirability, increases efficiency, decreases pollution

26 Curitibano bus station

27 Curitibano bus station

28 BRT in America Provision of last highway bill, SAFETEA- LU (pronounced safety-looooooooooo ) allows for increased funding available for BRT projects in cities of varying size Could it work in Washington, DC?

29 Yes Yes, it could.

30 BRT in Washington DC s radial street plan is perfect for BRT Arterial avenues could be converted into BRT specific lanes with strategically spaced terminals

32 Incentives BRT would greatly improve bus flow in Washington, negating the complaints that it takes too long. Could also expand network, responding to complaints that no service is available

33 Disincentives BRT dedicated lanes would diminish the proportion of DC s road network available for private cars Temporary increase in automobile commute time makes public transportation more appealing

34 Questions?

EVAN GLASS. Montgomery County Council District 5

EVAN GLASS. Montgomery County Council District 5 EVAN GLASS 1. Do you support funding and advancing the Purple Line to groundbreaking as described in the Locally Yes. As a member of the recently convened Purple Line Implementation Advisory Group, I will