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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEast Jaime Court TDM Plan 06-11-2002Case #: Date Circulated: Date Recommended: Date Approved: P02-0042 September 16, 2002 November 21, 2002 November 21, 2002 June 11, 2002 Transportation Demand Management Program for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Haskins Way and Jamie Court Projects, South San Francisco, California Prepared by Richard Booth Sequoia Solutions Consulting 2995 Woodside Road Suite 400 Woodside, Ca. 94062 650.747.9745 rdbooth @ earthlink.net Haskins Way and Jamie Court Projects Transportation Demand Management Program -An overview- a. Alexandria Real Estate Equities ("Alexandria") is committed to being a good neighbor in the community and understands the importance of minimizing environmental impacts in the South San Francisco Cabot, Cabot, and Forbes Industrial Park. Alexandria realizes that informing tenants of the alternative methods of commuting available will lead to reductions in congestion and pollution and have a positive contribution to the community. Alexandria desires to attract and retain excellent tenants, offer an attractive worksite, as well as a creative, productive, and comfortable environment for its employees. Alexandria is committed to encourage and assist tenants to develop and utilize an extensive and innovative, Transportation Demand Management Program. b. Alexandria shall require all tenants to designate at least one employee as a TDM "point of contact" representative within their respective company. Alexandria shall coordinate the training of such personnel. Alexandria will also designate an Alexandria representative to serve as a resource to each tenant- appointed TDM personnel. Such representative will be available via telephone or email to assist with commute questions, concerns, or transit service problems. This employee will prepare historical surveyed commute records for annual submission of a TDM Report to the City of South San Francisco Planning Department. All new tenants and their employees shall be required to participate in a "new employee orientation program". Most importantly, this program will explain the importance of trip reduction methods and their benefits to the community. The program orientation will also address the TDM mission statement, alternative commute options, provide transit schedules, maps, and offer free ride matching services. All new employees shall complete a commuter surrey indicating the modes of commuting available, and what their expected mode would be. c. Alexandria will promote the use of the existing Peninsula Congestion Relief Alliance's ("Alliance"), Utah/ East Grand Shuttle Bus System, and the use of public transit modes of travel. These commuter shuttles operate during peak commute hours to the South San Francisco CalTrain Station, and to the San Francisco Glen Park Bart Station. Appropriate areas shall be designated for passenger loading, as well as adequate sheltered waiting areas, such as the building lobby. d. Alexandria will advocate to its tenants the use of the Alliance "Emergency Ride Home" program. This allows employees who utilize alternative forms of commuting a free ride home for emergencies up to four times per year via 2 taxicabs or rental cars. Alexandria will assist tenants in procuring grant monies available for such programs. e. Alexandria will encourage its tenants to sponsor taxi vouchers for the transportation of employees for medical appointments, during regular business hours. A typical program would apply to round trip transportation, (20 miles each way), up to two times per year. This is an incentive to not bring a vehicle to work (or to use one). f. Per the Commuter Check Program, pre tax payroll deductions will allow up to $100.00 per month for public transit passes, and the expense for participating in vanpools. In addition, Alexandria will encourage its tenants to subsidize and match each additional dollar for this program up to $50.00 per month, per participant. g. Vanpools will be provided by tenants as an attractive method of commuting. Vanpools will be established, subject to economic feasibility and employee participation. Alexandria will reimburse the primary and secondary drivers for required medical exams. Dedicated "preferential parking" areas will be provided in highly visible and signed, areas. Passenger loading areas shall be designated. h. Bicycling will be a viable commute option. Alexandria will require its tenants to include shower facilities within their buildings to help promote cycling as an alternate commute option. Alexandria will designate specific common area locations within the project for bicycle lockers or racks. Alexandria will also petition existing shuttle operators to include equipment on transit shuttles to accommodate bicycles. Common bicycle and transit commute routes will be shared and published. i. Alexandria will designate secure areas for motorcycles. These signed areas will be equipped with methods of impact protection from moving vehicular traffic. j. Alexandria will supply tenants with information to assist them in developing a formal telecommuting program to be available for selected employees; dependent upon position and specific work requirements. This information will include "how to" instructions, including sample contracts between management and employees, feedback mechanisms, with ergonomics, insurance and worker's compensation issues. k. Taxicab vouchers will be available for local business transportation, including travel to and from the S.F.O. International Airport. Visitor promotional materials wilt be available to promote the use of public transit to /from SFO Airport. Tenants will be encouraged to subsidize one-way taxi rides as incentives. Taxi loading zones will be designated. I. The S.S.F. Downtown Dasher program will be promoted for mid day travel to the downtown area. 3 m. Tenants will be required to provide visitors and job applicants with the local public transportation options, shuttle schedules, and transit maps for the area, to encourage the use of public transit. n. Alexandria will expedite through the tenant TDM "point of contact" personnel, employee surveys to determine current modes of commuting. The surveys will be conducted via a-mail, or other acceptable methods of communication. Non- responses to commute surveys are to be counted as "drive alone". o. Tenants will be encouraged to participate in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's "Spare the Air" program during unhealthy weather conditions. Participants will be requested to not drive to work alone, and seek other methods of commuting. Enrollment will be via the BAAQMD Web page, and a "Spare the Air Day' notification will be sent via a-mail, as soon as it is forecasted. Participation in other local ride share promotions throughout the year, will also be encouraged. p Alexandria will make an annual financial contribution to RIDES For Bay Area Commuters, "Ride Your Bike to Work Week", promotion, to help promote bicycle commuting. q. Chartering of busses for group activities and off site meetings will be encouraged. Services provided by tenants will include booking, group discounts, invoicing, and special services, as needed. r. At the time that commuter Bay Ferry Services are available, Alexandria will investigate including commuter transportation links to the proposed Oyster Point Ferry Terminal. 4 June 11, 2002 Transportation Demand Management Program for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Haskins Way and Jamie Court Projects, South San Francisco, California Alexandria is committed to developing an environmentally conscious project complete with an effective Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program. Alexandria will encourage its tenants to consider the program as part of a comprehensive benefit package designed to attract and retain quality employees. Alexandria will educate tenants about commuting alternatives in efforts to foster increased community awareness. The proposed full project build out population based on 100% R&D use, is approximately 330 employees, in two buildings, for a total project of 133,000 square feet. (2.5 employees per 1,000 square feet). A surface parking area, with a one level underground parking garage (55 spaces) is also part of this development. Projected individual element goals are based on the level of employee participation (28%, or 93 employees) utilizing commute alternatives. It is anticipated that the level of employee participation will increase over time, due to the expanded TDM program efforts and incentives offered to employees. This enhanced TDM Program identifies the methods that will meet, and exceed this goal of commute trip reduction. This project is intended to be developed in two construction phases, Building No. 1, with 57,600 square feet, (44% of project) during 2003, and Building No. 2, which will consist of 75,400 square feet, (56% of project) during 2004. 5 A. PROGRAM ELEMENTS: 1. New employees shall be required to participate in a new employee orientation program. This program will explain the TDM Mission Statement, explain alternative commute options, and provide transit schedules, maps, and offer free ride matching services to encourage the formation of carpools. All new employees will complete an "Initial Commuter Survey". The survey will ask new employees to select their expected mode(s) of transportation from a list of commuting options available to the project. This method has been proven to be a very effective means to promote alternative commute patterns, before new employees commuting habits are established. Passenger drop off and loading areas shall be designated. Carpools shall have a minimum of ten percent of the preferential parking areas in the garage. Carpools: Phase 1 Program goal: 13 Employee trips saved daily: 13 Phase 2 Program goal: 17 Employee trips saved daily: 17 Total element goal: 30 2. The program will effectively promote the use of the existing Alliance Shuttle Bus System, and the use of mixed public transit modes. Commuter shuttles operate during peak commute hours to the South San Francisco CalTrain Station, and to the San Francisco Glen Park Bart Station. The Alliance has confirmed that capacity and willingness to accommodate additional users should not be a problem. Employer operated shuttles connecting to public transit have been identified as the most effective marketing method of attracting passengers to public transit systems. (Source: SamTrans and CalTrain 20 year marketing plans). Shuttle shelters will be included, as appropriate. Shuttles: Phase 1 Program goal: 15 Employee trips saved daily: 15 Phase 2 Program goal: 18 Employee trips saved daily: 18 Total element goal: 33 6 (Additional daytime trips are also saved utilizing available alternative transportation modes, for lunches, errands, and medical appointments, although not part of these figures). 3. The program will advocate to its tenants the use of the Peninsula Congestion Relief Alliance's "Emergency Ride Home" program. This allows employees who utilize alternative forms of commuting a free ride home for emergencies up to four times per year via taxicabs or rental cars. (50% grant matching funds are available to the employers that participate in this program). These types of programs have been identified as the number one incentive for employees to rideshare. Employers have seen increases of 15-20% in ridesharing when this type of program is offered to employees (Source: RIDES 1999 Commute Survey). This program will promote an increased use of alternative transit, however some employees will already be using these modes. It is a deciding factor in not driving alone, and a valuable method to deal with the unknown urgent need for an employee to quickly get home for emergencies. ERH: Phase 1 Program goal: 8% of employees Employee trips saved daily: Indirect program benefit. Phase 2 Program goal: 10% of employees Employee trips saved daily: Indirect program benefit. Total element goal: 18% Indirect program benefit 4. Alexandria will encourage tenants to provide transportation for employee medical appointments, during regular business hours, via taxi vouchers, for a round trip, up to two times per year. This is an incentive to not bring a vehicle to work. Phase 1 Program goal: 1 % of employees Employee trips saved daily: Indirect program benefit Phase 2 Program goal: 1 % of employees Employee trips saved daily: Indirect program benefit Total element goal: 2% Indirect program benefit 7 5.Per the Commuter Check Program, pre tax payroll deductions will allow the employee up to $100.00 per month for public transit passes, and the expense for participating in vanpools. In addition, Alexandria will encourage its tenants to subsidize and match this program up to $ 50.00 per month, per participant. Transit pass subsidies of as little as $15.00 per month has shown a significant increase in monthly commute pass sates in other areas of the state. (Source: The Hoyt Company). Phase 1 Program goal: 5% of employees Employee trips saved daily: Indirect program benefit Phase 2 Program goal: 7% of employees Employee trips saved daily: Indirect program benefit Total element goal: 12% Indirect program benefit 6. Vanpools will be provided by tenants as an attractive method of commuting. Vanpools will be established, and subsidized, subject to economic feasibility and employee participation. Alexandria will reimburse the primary and secondary drivers for required medical exams. Advertising methods such as "wrapping" the vanpools may subsidize some of the operating expenses. Dedicated "preferential parking" areas will be provided in highly visible areas. Subsidies for vanpools by employers, is the most desired factor in deciding to vanpool (Source: RIDES 2000 Commute Profile). Vanpools: Phase 1 Program goal: 9 Employee trips saved daily: 9 Phase 2 Program goal: 11 Employee trips saved daily: 11 Total element goal: 20 7. Bicycling will be promoted as a viable commute option. Bicycle lockers, storage areas, racks, and showers, will be available. The local Bayside Trail provides important trail links to other areas. Common bicycle and transit commute routes of the employees in the area will be shared and published. Bicycles: Phase 1 Program goal: 3 Employee trips saved daily: 3 8 Phase 2 Program goal: 3 Employee trips saved daily: 3 Total element goal: 6 8. Motorcycles will be accommodated in secure, signed designated areas, with methods of impact protection from automobile traffic. Motorcycles pollute less, may use carpool lanes, and cross toll bridges during commute hours for free. Motorcycles: Phase 1 Program goal: 1 Employee trips saved daily: 1 Phase 2 Program goal: 1 Employee trips saved daily: 1 Total element goal: 2 9.Telecommuting reduces both traffic and the need for employee parking facilities. Alexandria will supply tenants with information to assist them in developing a formal telecommuting program with "how- to" instructions, including contracts between management and the employees, feedback mechanisms, ergonomics, insurance and worker's compensation issues. The information will also include suggestions for possible methods to track telecommuting days. Telecommuting: Phase 1 Program goal: 1 Employee trips saved daily: 1 Phase 2 Program goal: 2 Employee trips saved daily: 2 Total element goal: 3 10. The use of taxicab vouchers will be encouraged for local business transportation, including travel to and from the S.F.O. International Airport. Indirect commute impact. 11. The S.S.F. Downtown Dasher program will be promoted for midday travel to the downtown area. Alexandria will encourage its tenants to pay for round trip program vouchers. Indirect commute impact. 9 12. Tenants will be required to provide visitors and job applicants with public transportation options, shuttle schedules, and transit maps for the area, to promote the use of public transit. Indirect beneficial impact to program. 13. Employee surveys shall be conducted to determine current modes of commuting. The surveys will be conducted via a-mail. Non-responses to commute surveys are to be counted as "drive alone". Indirect benefit to program. 14. An employee contact person will be available to answer commute questions, concerns, or transit problems. This employee will be available via telephone or e- mail. This employee will prepare historical surveyed commute records, for annual submission of a TDM Report to the City of South San Francisco Planning Department. This person will work in conjunction with the Peninsula Congestion Relief Alliance to assist in the promotion of ridesharing programs, and events. Indirect benefit to program. 15. Employees will be encouraged to participate in the Bay Area Air Quality District's "Spare the Air" program during unhealthy weather conditions. Participants will be requested to not drive to work alone, and seek other methods of commuting. Enrollment will be via the BAAQMD Web page, and "Spare the Air Day' notification will be sent via a-mail, as soon as it is forecasted. Indirect benefit to program. B. MEASURING TDM PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS: Alternative methods of commute modes: New TDM Program Gains: (eliminate trips ( 9.0%) Carpools: 30 round trips per day (10.0%) Shuttles: 33 round trips per day ( 6.0%) Vanpools: 20 round trips per day ( 2.0%) Bicycles: 6 round trips per day ( 0.5%) Motorcycles: 2 round trips per day ( 1.0%) Telecommuting: 3 round trips per day (28.5%) TOTAL: 94 round trips/ day reduced New program goal: 94 new reduced round trips, per day (93 would be required) TDM Program gains: 94 round trips per day (reduction) Employee daily trips saved: 94 Projected Employee Participation Goal: 28.5% 10 C. The City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) Project Guidelines: The designed TDM program is required to have the capacity to fully mitigate the 193 new peak a.m., and 184 p.m. commute trips that would be generated by this project: TDM Measure: Quantity: Bicycle lockers and racks. Showers and changing rms. Shuttle to transit w/ ERH Transit ticket subsidy Preferential parking carpools Preferential parking vanpools Vanpool program w/ERH Emergency Ride Program Trip Credit: One per every 3 (1) 1 Two per ea. (4) 8 Two per round trip seat (13) 26 One per ea. $20./month min. (33) 33 Two per space (12) ~ 24 Seven per space (3) 21 Ten per space 30 One per every two members (100) 50 Total trip credits: 193" D. CONCLUSION: An employee participation level of 28.5% indicates that with a projected population of 330 employees, the potential of 93 employees could actively participate in alternative modes of commuting. TDM Program offerings could reasonably eliminate 94 daily round commute trips at this project location. In addition, alternative mid day transportation options are to be made available to reduce the need for a vehicle. (These methods are very effective in reducing congestion, parking demands, and reducing "cold start" pollution sources, although not used in the calculated daily trip reduction figures). On site amenities will further reduce the need for mid day travel, and parking demand. Attractive options to driving alone will be supported, and with the available choices of transit options, employer subsidies, and marketing, this program can be an effective tool to encourage commuters to forgo drive alone situations. The new TDM Plan identifies the need of a total of 93 daily commute trip reductions, at full project completion and activation. Employee and tenant surveys will provide sufficient feedback on the success and effectiveness of this program. Management supports, and understands the importance of an effective TDM Program, as part of a proven, progressive business environment. End. 11