By Brian Shaw, CAPP
The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed commuting and travel behavior. In the past, we could count on commuters going to work five days a week. No longer is that true. What do parking and mobility professionals need to do now and for the foreseeable future to adjust and adapt to these new conditions? Do transportation demand management programs apply when commuters may not be commuting? Can technology be the answer?
My recent webinar can provide you some food for thought on these questions. Using our experiences at Stanford University as we have slowly emerged from the pandemic, I discuss the new commuting patterns, parking permit sales, transit usage and impacts to Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs. I also discuss the culprit in causing all the changes, Hybrid working arrangements.
For as long as employees can determine their frequency and schedules of when they come to work, the efficiency and effectiveness of traditional TDM strategies will be in flux. Plus, the all-you-can-park permits we’ve sold monthly or annually are no longer applicable for the Hybrid employee. I discuss some options to consider in how to now sell parking permits and apply TDM programs for the growing numbers of Hybrid employees.
If your location has developed or is looking into ways to address the unique needs of the Hybrid commuter, let’s start a dialogue.
Brian Shaw, CAPP, is executive director of Stanford Transportation for Stanford University, and co- chair of IPMI’s Sustainability Committee.
Brian’s webinar, Changes in Managing Parking & Travel Demand, can be purchased from the IPMI On-Demand Course Library at https://login.parking-mobility.org/products/. Explore all of the learning opportunities available for purchase!
