About EcoDevo 101: The practice of economic development is vital to the advancement of any thriving community. It is also often misunderstood. In this series, we’ll dig deeper into the topics that underpin the profession, from public policy and mobility to technology and community planning, among many others.
Transportation, just like any other industry or profession has its own unique terms and acronyms –jargon like TDM, CMAQ and VMT-R might seem like gibberish to the average person, but to Denver South, they all have specific and measurable effects on the quality of life for employers and employees of the region. If you are well versed in transportation lingo, no need to read on. If like most, you have no idea what any of these acronyms mean, then please continue. Hopefully, this blog will help sort out some of the alphabet soup which represents much of the work we do through our Transportation Management Association (TMA) at Denver South.
Denver South offers transportation demand management (TDM) support for the Denver South region through what is called a Transportation Management Association. Denver South is a member of the Way to Go Partnership funded through a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant. One of the main priorities for a TMA is to is achieve vehicle miles traveled reductions, (VMT-R) through effective TDM practices.
A transportation management association (TMA) is an organized group, sometimes formed by a city or state department of transportation, or as part of a chamber of commerce, economic development group or separate non-profit. Regardless of its structure, a TMA applies carefully selected transportation demand management (TDM) strategies to facilitate safe and efficient movement of people and goods within an area. Also called transportation management organizations (TMOs), they vary widely in size, organization, membership, funding, and services offered. In the Denver Metro Area, the various regional TMAs were formed into a partnership called Way to Go that is managed by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). Each TMA/O focuses on a specific geographic region. For Denver South, that region extends along I-25 from Belleview to RidgeGate Parkway: (Note the area in black represents the Denver South service area)
This map represents all of the TMA/O’s in the Denver Metro Region supported by DRCOG’s Way To Go Program.
TMA/O’s work with local businesses, jurisdictions, and planning organizations to pool their resources to support commuter transportation strategies. Denver South is unique as our region encompasses multiple jurisdictions including the cities of Centennial, Denver, Greenwood Village and Lone Tree, as well as portions of Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas Counties. These jurisdictions and their elected officials, along with local business leaders, represent a governing Board of Directors for the Denver South TMA, helping to guide activities in the region.
Funding of TMA/O’s has traditionally been by employer membership. However, the Way to Go partnership relies on federal grants in partnership with local jurisdictions and set-aside funds.
Denver South works with employers of all sizes to evaluate, educate, and encourage employers within our region to engage with their workforce on the benefits of sustainable commuting. Marquee employers like Charter Communications (3400 employees), Charles Schwab (3800 employees), and Western Union (1400 employees) have all taken voluntary steps to reduce Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) travel, proving themselves to be valuable corporate citizens and stewards of the local environment. By reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality, the Denver South region will continue to thrive. Quality of life, outdoor recreation, and nature are important to all Coloradans and Denver South works to ensure these qualities are sustained moving forward.
Data, studies, and engaging with our community drives much of the work we do. A sampling of our current work is described in more detail below.
- Transportation data analysis spearheaded by TomTom, AECOM and the University of Denver will inform local planners and elected officials where employees are commuting to and from to arrive in Denver South.
- Conducting studies to improve connections for people who currently use transit or are interested in trying it. Denver South believes that if better first/last mile connections exist near transit stations, more people will shift from driving alone to using transit. This effort is a multi-faceted approach that could include subsidies and/or direct incentives to participating employers and employees.
- Denver South hosts bi-monthly Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) Meetings. These meetings gather a select group of concerned employers who want to volunteer and do their part to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in Denver South. Current programs include RTD Ecopass education, the Regional Air Quality Council Employer Trip Reduction Program (ETRP), and information on the Qualified Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit.
Learn more about the ETC Program here.
We love all things transportation. Reach out to the Denver South Transportation Team for more information on any of our projects, planning, and initiatives.
