Building Bridges

How can we reach beyond the Mobility Management community?

Our Clouded Transportation Future (USA)

Financial “Need” (€375 Billion) outweighs capacity to fund (€175 Billion)

Extension of current legislation for 18 months Unwilling to Increase Gas Tax Use of General Revenues Public Skepticism Political Dilemma

Budget deficit not “Sustainable” Mid-term election facing an aroused public opinion

Recession has “Hurt” Public Transport

Nearly 90 percent of U.S. transit systems have had to raise fares

or cut service in the past year.

“Don’t Waste A Good Crisis”

Petroleum use in the US has declined or remained flat except in the transportation sector. The increased use of petroleum for transportation has more than compensated for declines in other sectors.

Transportation, which accounted for a bit over half of petroleum consumption in the 1970s, now accounts for two-thirds…

National Policy Reform

Transportation PlanningRequirements Performance Measurement and

Evaluation Focus on Metropolitan Mobility Inclusion of Environmental

Criteria Inclusion of Energy

Conservation Criteria

“Preaching to the Choir”

“Preaching to the Choir”

Legislative & Policy Strategies

Develop a Package of Legislative Recommendations

Annual Legislative ConferencesHeld on Capitol Hill In conjunction with annual ACT

Board of Directors spring meeting

Leadership AcademyBuild an “Army” of advocates (36)Meet in Washington DC

ACT “Legislative Summit”

Third Annual Event Started small and growing

25 35 50 participants

Developed and packaged our recommendations

Two-day Event: Morning: Speakers Afternoon: “Hill Visits”

“All Politics are Local”

Invite sympathetic legislators to speak

Invite professional staff to attend

Make administrative agency staff aware of your efforts

ACT “Legislator of the Year”

Personally visit your elected officials

Find your “Champions” and reward them

Always ASK for support of your initiatives

ACT “Leadership Academy”

Third Class of Graduates (36) Develop Commitment

Enlist Educate Empower

Stress importance of advocacy

Set them on their path Watch the Results

Successes:Commute-to-Work Tax Benefit

USA Version of “Salary Sacrifice” Year 1986 - $15/month (~€10/month) Year 2009 - $230/month (~€175/month)

Parity with Parking Benefit Allowance

Federal Gov’t Employee C-T-W Incentive Year 2009 - $230/month (~€175/month)

“Commuter Benefits Equity Act” Make permanent C-T-W & Parking - Parity

Commute-To-Work benefitshave increased transit ridership

71

%

72

%

31

%

11

%

12

6%

9% 1

6%

42

%

42

%

24

%

48

%

14

%

42

%

13

%

43

%

9.6

%

8.5

%

0%

30%

60%

90%

120%

150%

% of Ridership Increase % of New Riders % of Switched from Driving Alone

TRB: “Analyzing the Effectiveness of Commuter Benefits Programs: 1989-2004”

Successes: Dedicated Funding

Capital Investment• New or expanded transportation projects to reduce emissions

Operating Assistance• Traffic flow improvements, transit, ridesharing, bicycle and pedestrian

programs, auto inspection and maintenance programs, travel demand management (TDM) measures

Emission Reductions• Expected to result in tangible reductions in CO and ozone emissions Public Good• Funds can be used for services which benefit a specific entity, such as a

major employer, only for short trial periods to test the viability of a project.• Public-private partnerships are allowed if a project will benefit both the public

and elements of the private sector.

Successes: Dedicated Funding

Transit44%

STP/CMAQ6%

Other8%

Traffic Flow32%

Shared Ride4%

TDM3%

Ped/Bike3%

~€7 Billionover 6 years

Projected Successes:ACT Legislative Initiatives

“Commute LESS Act” Creation of regional Employer Councils Tax credit for private investment in provision of C-T-W

incentives for employees“Private Investment in Commuter Vanpooling Act” Reward for private capital investment in public

transportation by vanpool“Green Routes to Work Act” Twelve TDM measures (most preferential tax

treatments)… C-T-W, Vanpool, Telework, Bicycling

“Preaching to the Choir”

Building Bridges

Jon MartzChair, Public Policy CouncilAssociation for Commuter TransportationContact: jon.martz@vpsiinc.com

ECOMM 2010 – Graz