HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 13622
City of Palo Alto (ID # 13622)
City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: 5/9/2022 Report Type: Information Reports
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: 2021 Palo Alto Transportation Management Association Annual Report,
2021 Downtown Commute Survey, and 2022 Strategic Business Plan
Summary
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Transportation Department
Recommendation
This is an information report, and no action is required.
Executive Summary
The Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (TMA) implements programs to reduce
single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips to and from Palo Alto. The funding agreement between the
Palo Alto TMA and the City restricts the use of City funds to trip reduction programs in the
Downtown and California Avenue areas only and requires the TMA to report on the use of
these funds. The attached Annual Report covers the 2021 calendar year, detailing how public
funds were spent to support SOV trip reduction in the Downtown and California Ave districts,
including the results of the Fall 2021 Commute Survey. The attachment also includes a
summary of the 2022 TMA Strategic Business Plan.
Background
Following direction from the City Council in 2013, staff worked to develop transportation
demand management (TDM) strategies to encourage alternatives to solo driving as part of a
multi-faceted effort to address traffic and parking concerns in the downtown area and the city
at large. The development of a TMA for Palo Alto was a key component of this approach, which
the City initially funded through a $499,880 contract with consultants Moore Iacofano
Goltsman, Inc.1 After the TMA was formed in January 2016, this contract continued to fund the
sub-consultant services of the TMA’s part-time executive director. The TMA hired permanent
part-time staff in April 2018.
In June 2016, Council authorized the City Manager to formalize the provision of additional City
funding for TMA programs by executing a funding agreement between the City of Palo Alto, the
1 CMR #4766: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/43344
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), and the Palo Alto TMA.2 Because the TMA was not
yet an approved Section 501(c)(3) organization (its application was pending with the Internal
Revenue Service), the TMA operated as a program of SVCF. SVCF held and administered a fund
restricted to specific charitable purposes and had legal discretion and control over the
restricted account. When the TMA received its formal 501(c)(3) status, SVCF ceased to be the
organization’s program sponsor and to act as the TMA’s fiscal agent.
The 2016 funding agreement approved by Council provided $100,000 to the TMA for programs
to reduce single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) commute trips to and from downtown Palo Alto.
Under a subsequent amendment, the City provided an additional $100,000 to support the
TMA’s work in 2017. The City Council adopted a Fiscal Year 2018 budget that included $480,000
for the Palo Alto TMA to continue to support its efforts to reduce SOV commute trips using a
variety of strategies. An amended and restated agreement signed in 2017 incorporated this
approved funding, extended the agreement’s term and set forth the parties’ obligations over
the remaining years. This 2017 funding agreement delegated authority to the City Manager to
amend the agreement to add funding if the Council chose to budget additional funds for future
fiscal years and to remove the SVCF as a party once the TMA received IRS section 501(c)(3)
nonprofit status and no longer required SVCF to act as the TMA’s fiscal agent. In December
2018, the agreement was amended to incorporate additional funds allocated for FY 2019 and to
reflect the fact that the SVCF no longer serves as the financial agent for the TMA now that the
TMA is a non-profit.
In April 2019, the Finance Committee received a presentation from the TMA and provided
feedback on the TMA Strategic Plan.3 On May 15, 2019, the Finance Committee recommended
an increase in employee parking permit rates to provide the TMA with additional funding of up
to $180,000, for a total of $660,000 annually. On June 17, 2019, the Council voted to increase
the FY20 budget recommendation by $90,000 from the University Avenue Parking Permit Fund
for a total amount of $750,000. In July 2019, the agreement was amended to reflect the
Council’s appropriation of $750,000 for FY 2020. That agreement expired on June 30, 2020.
An informational report transmitted to Council on May 26, 2020, included the 2019 TMA
Annual Report, comprising commute program data, results and analysis of the Fall 2019
Downtown Commute Survey, and a summary of the 2020 Strategic Business Plan4. In that
month, the Council considered its annual budget during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this
context, which also aligned with a lower funding request by the TMA in May, the Council voted
to appropriate a reduced funding level of $453,000 for the TMA in FY 2021, and approved the
use of City funds for the TMA’s programs in the California Avenue Business District as well as
2 CMR #6823: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/52687
3 Report #10198: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/70194,
Presentation: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=63435.61&BlobID=70664
4 Report #11307: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=64175.41&BlobID=76770
City of Palo Alto Page 3
the Downtown.5 Funding was provided under the new proposed funding agreement but was
reduced further based on a November 2020 TMA request for $350,000. A new funding
agreement was signed in 2020 reflecting Council’s appropriation of $350,000 in FY 2021. This
agreement expires in FY 2023 and again delegates authority to the City Manager to amend the
agreement to add funding if Council budgets more funds. In June of 2021, Council allocated
$150,000 in funds for the TMA for FY 2022.
Discussion
Regular reports are required under the TMA’s funding agreement with the City. In the past
year, the TMA has used City funds to purchase transit passes for low-income workers,
supporting their use of transit, and to subsidize other programs such as carpooling and ride-
share aimed at increasing all Downtown and California Avenue commuters’ use of alternative
modes of transportation. The attached Annual Report covers the 2021 calendar year, detailing
how public funds were spent to support SOV trip reduction in Downtown, including the results
of the Fall 2021 Downtown Commute Survey. The attachment also includes a summary of the
2022 TMA Strategic Business Plan.
Policy Implications
The funding agreement between the City and the TMA requires that the TMA strategic plan be
regularly updated. In addition, the transportation demand management (TDM) services
provided by the TMA are consistent with the following Comprehensive Plan policies and
programs:
Policy T-1.1 Take a comprehensive approach to reducing single-occupant vehicle trips by
involving those who live, work and shop in Palo Alto in developing strategies that make it easier
and more convenient not to drive.
Policy T-1.2 Collaborate with Palo Alto employers and business owners to develop, implement
and expand comprehensive programs like the TMA to reduce single-occupant vehicle commute
trips, including through incentives.
Program T1.2.1 Create a long-term education program to change the travel habits of residents,
visitors, shoppers and workers by informing them about transportation alternatives, incentives
and impacts. Work with the PAUSD and with other public and private interests, such as the
Chamber of Commerce and Commuter Wallet partners, to develop and implement this
program.
Program T1.2.4 Evaluate the performance of pilot programs implemented by the Palo Alto
Transportation Management Association and pursue expansion from Downtown to California
Avenue and other areas of the city when appropriate.
5 Report #11376: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/76803,
Action Minutes: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=48631.05&BlobID=77870
City of Palo Alto Page 4
Program T1.2.6 Pursue full participation of Palo Alto employers in the TMA.
Policy T-1.13 Encourage services that complement and enhance the transportation options
available to help Palo Alto residents and employees make first/last mile connections and travel
within the city for daily needs without using a single-occupancy vehicle, including shuttle, taxi
and ridesharing services.
Policy T-2.2 As part of the effort to reduce traffic congestion, seek ongoing funding and engage
employers to operate and expand TMAs to address transportation and parking issues as
appropriate in the City’s employment districts.
Program T2.2.1 Work in partnership with the Palo Alto TMA and Stanford University to
aggregate data and realize measurable reductions in single-occupant vehicle commuting to and
from Downtown and in the Stanford Research Park.
Policy T-5.5 Minimize the need for employees to park in and adjacent to commercial centers,
employment districts and schools.
Program T7.1.1 Expand transportation opportunities for transit-dependent riders by supporting
discounts for taxi fares, rideshare services and transit, by coordinating transit systems to be
shared by multiple senior housing developments, by maintaining a database of volunteer
drivers and other transit options.
Resource Impact
This item is an informational report and has no resource impact. Funding for the TMA is
sourced from the University Avenue Parking Fund and is subject to City Council approval
through the annual budget process.
Timeline
TMA programs operate year-round. The current funding agreement is a three-year agreement
expiring at the end of FY 2023 (June 30, 2023). Any additional funds to be paid to TMA for FY
2023 would require Council appropriation and amendment of the agreement. The City Manager
is authorized to amend the agreement to incorporate any additional Council appropriated
funds.
Stakeholder Engagement
Monthly Palo Alto TMA Board of Directors meetings are open to the public and occur from 9:00
- 10:00am on the third Thursday of the month. Information about board meetings can be found
at the Palo Alto TMA website: https://www.paloaltotma.org/
Attachments:
• TMA CY2021 Annual Report, Strategic Plan, and Commute Survey Summary
2021 Annual Report
Three-Year Strategic Plan (FY 2023-25)
2021 Commute Survey Summary
Submitted to the Palo Alto City Council
April 26, 2022
Prepared by:
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
ALTRANS TMA Inc
855 El Camino Real #13A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
www.paloaltotma.org
2021 Annual Report
January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021
Submitted to the Palo Alto City Council for the PATMA Study Session
Prepared by:
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
ALTRANS TMA Inc
855 El Camino Real #13A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
www.paloaltotma.org
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Palo Alto City Council Priorities ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2021 Staff....................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2021 Board of Directors................................................................................................................................................. 3
TMA Programs ............................................................................................................................................................... 4
Benefits of PATMA Programs ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Testimonials ................................................................................................................................................................... 6
PATMA’s Top Five Accomplishments in 2021 ................................................................................................................ 9
Diversifying Funding Sources ....................................................................................................................................... 10
Current PATMA Funding and Expenses ....................................................................................................................... 11
Program Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 13
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................... 15
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2021 Annual Report
Executive Summary
On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom declared a statewide shutdown in response to the
spread of COVID-19. As a result, the number of low wage essential workers the Palo Alto
Transportation Management Association (PATMA) serves – primarily those working in food
service, retail, and accommodation – fell from a high of 387 workers in February 2020 to a low
of 54 in April 2020. Those who could work from home did and frontline essential workers, who
needed to be physically present to perform their work, abandoned mass transit and carpooling
for health and safety reasons. PATMA has spent the past two years building its programs back
up.
In December 2021, PATMA removed 132 cars from the road by helping service workers in Palo
Alto access train and bus passes, carpool rides, and early morning/late night Lyft rides. An
overview of PATMA’s metrics in December 2021 includes:
• 132 single-occupancy vehicles diverted by providing:
o 41 GoPasses
o 20 Caltrain passes
o 30 VTA bus passes
o 36 SamTrans bus passes
o 2 Dumbarton Transbay bus passes
o multiple Waze carpool rides equivalent to 1 rider
o 4 Lyft riders
• at an annual cost of $1,383/single-occupancy vehicle (SOV)
diverted for transit passes, $905/SOV diverted for Waze
carpool, and $2,250/SOV diverted for Lyft
For a 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, PATMA programs eliminated 619,620 vehicle
miles traveled and avoided 255 tons of greenhouse gases.
These numbers could continue to climb in the next year if PATMA staff has the funding to
expand outreach efforts to find service sector workers willing to return to or try mass transit.
Given the widespread availability of vaccines, boosters and masks, as well as mass transit’s
improved cleaning protocols and upgraded ventilation systems, risks of riding mass transit have
fallen dramatically for commuters.
During the pandemic, while additional people took up bicycling for exercise, PATMA worked on a
new program to encourage bicycle commuting that will be rolled out soon. In late 2020, PATMA
won a competitive grant from the federal Transportation Research Board for $100,000 to
PATMA’s mission
The Palo Alto TMA reduces
single occupancy vehicle
trips, traffic congestion
and demand for parking by
delivering targeted
transportation solutions to
Palo Alto’s diverse range of
employers, employees,
visitors and residents.
2
develop a fintech app with start-up ByCycling that will incentivize bicycle commuting. After beta
testing this app in early 2022, PATMA will roll it out to workers in the community in mid-2022.
PATMA’s mode shift programs support the City of Palo Alto to realize goals of reduced traffic
congestion, reduced parking demand in downtown, as well as the City Council’s 2021 priorities
of economic recovery, housing, social justice, and climate change.
Introduction
PATMA offers innovative programs and services that help workers mode shift away from single-
occupancy vehicles into trains, buses, carpools and, soon, bicycles. The service sector workers
we support work primarily in food service, retail, and accommodation. After the pandemic
began and the Center for Disease Control defined frontline essential workers as “workers likely
at highest risk for work-related exposure to COVID-
19 because their work-related duties must be
performed on-site and involve being in close
proximity (<6 feet) to the public or to coworkers”
we realized that many of the people PATMA helps
with mode shift were essential workers who could
not work from home.
The pandemic disrupted the world of work in
radical ways. While pre-pandemic about 5% of
adults telecommuted, Figure 1 shows the extent to
which employee work patterns changed for non-
essential employees. Starting in early 2020, people
who could work from home did. Workers who had
to be physically present to do their jobs fled mass
transit and carpools for the safety of their single-
occupancy vehicles.
In February 2020, PATMA provided 387 service
sector workers with free transit passes, Waze
carpool rides, and Lyft before/after hours rides, a
number that fell dramatically to 54 in April 2020
after the State of California announced a public
health emergency. Two years into the pandemic,
traffic congestion seems to have worsened from
early pandemic times even though many workers
are still working from home. Increased traffic can be explained in part by the number of essential
workers who did not switch back to taking mass transit. In September 2021, Caltrain was only at
17% of its pre-pandemic ridership while VTA Light Rail was at 23%.
Source: Luum, “Changes to Working Location During
Covid-19,” June 2021.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Percentage
Figure 1: Covid reshaped
employee work patterns
Full-time on-site to full-time remote
Full-time on-site to part-time remote
Part-time remote to full-time remote
Work location did not change
Changed jobs during pandemic
Lost job or were furloughed
3
Another aspect that changed in the past two years is the public’s expanded interest in bicycling.
During the lockdown, more people walked and bicycled as safer forms of exercise while we
sheltered in place. Concurrently, PATMA developed a new incentive program to encourage more
bicycle commuting that will be rolled out in 2022. With a toolkit of free transit passes, Lyft
before/after hour rides, and bicycle incentives, PATMA plans to help low wage essential service
workers mode shift back to the level the program enjoyed pre-pandemic and then continue to
grow the program beyond those numbers.
Palo Alto City Council Priorities
While alleviating traffic congestion, reducing demand for parking downtown, and enhancing the
quality of life in Palo Alto provided the original motivations for the creation of PATMA; the Palo
Alto City Council overlaid additional concerns when announcing their 2021 priorities of
economic recovery, housing for social and economic balance, social justice, and climate change -
- protection and adaptation. In addition, the City’s Sustainability/Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) ad
hoc committee has been working to develop a plan to meet the City’s ambitious 80x30 goal of
reducing greenhouse gases 80% below 1990 levels by the year 2030.
PATMA’s programs address the City’s motivations and priorities listed above. Our work to shift
people out of their single occupancy vehicles into alternate commute modes alleviates traffic
congestion and reduces demand for parking downtown. Providing free transportation benefits
to low wage service sector workers in food service, retail and accommodation provides small
local business owners with a competitive advantage to attract and retain staff. By supporting
commercial district small business owners, managers, and workers, PATMA indirectly
contributes to the quality of life that makes Palo Alto a delightful place to live, work in, and visit.
Helping people mode shift into lower greenhouse gas emission commuting options reduces the
City’s emission contributions to climate change and reinforces the City of Palo Alto’s leadership
on implementing innovative solutions to climate change.
2021 PATMA Staff
• Kruti Ladani, Interim Executive Director
• Steve Raney, former Executive Director
• Sana Ahmed, Program Coordinator
• Stephen Blaylock, President, ALTRANS TMA Inc.
2021 Board of Directors
• Brad Ehikian (Board President), Premier Properties
• Rob George, Philz Coffee
• Gail Price, retired
• Philip Kamhi, City of Palo Alto
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TMA Programs
With funding from the University Avenue Parking Fund
and the California Avenue Parking Fund, PATMA provides
free Clipper Cards loaded with monthly passes for
Caltrain, VTA buses, SamTrans buses or Dumbarton
Transbay buses, Waze carpool, and Lyft rides. These
benefits are provided to service sector employees who
work in the Downtown and California Avenue areas
shown in Figure 2. We continued offering Waze carpool
benefits throughout 2021 although we expected Waze to
end the service in early 2022. The last mode shift option
PATMA currently offers is a Lyft ride which serves as a
Guaranteed Ride Home for transit pass holders to use in
emergency situations when they need to return home
quickly, or for riders commuting less than five miles
before 8am or after 8pm. Soon we will have a program
that incentivizes bicycle commuting.
BikeLove
PATMA is in the process of developing a first-in-the-
world “Bike Love” pilot with software partner ByCycling. When rolled out, this program will
provide daily incentives for verifiable active mode first/last-mile commute trips to transit and
active mode commutes from home to work, up to $599 per year per commuter. Geofenced
location tracking will confirm bike, e-bike, e-scooter, and e-skateboard trips. Within 60 seconds
of completing a trip, incentive dollars may be redeemed at local merchants via reloadable Apple
or Google Wallet e-debit cards. By restricting transaction authorization to local merchants,
municipal program funds circulate in the local economy, multiplying program impact. The Bike
Love incentive app can be applied to mass transit ridership as well and scale to other cities and
major employer commute programs at no cost to transit operators.
The process of securing the $100,000 Transit IDEA grant from the federal Transportation
Research Board was highly competitive. Forty projects applied for grant funding and only two,
including PATMA’s Bike Love project, won. Our long list of research partners, many of whom
wrote letters of support, helped us secure a winning proposal. The twenty research partners
include the City of Palo Alto, City of Menlo Park, City of Redwood City, local retailer Palo Alto
Bicycles, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Bay Area
Metropolitan Transportation Commission, American Public Transit Association, Caltrain, Valley
Transportation Authority, Los Angeles Metro, Commute.org, Austin Capital Metro Transit,
Figure 2: PATMA Service Areas:
Downtown and California Ave
5
Caltrain’s secure bike storage vendors (BikeHub, eLock, and BikeLink), fintech industry leaders
(Virtual Incentives, Marqeta, and Sutton Bank), and ALTRANS TMA, Inc. Bike Love’s total budget,
including partner in-kind matching, is $346,000.
The project kicked off in February 2021 with a software development and validation phase
which will be followed by a ten-month deployment phase. As we develop and implement the
Bike Love app to incentivize commuting to Palo Alto job sites the team will measure program
efficacy and determine scalability.
For a quick overview video, please visit this link: Bike Love in 80 seconds (video)
Benefits of PATMA Programs
While PATMA offers free transit passes, carpools, and Lyft rides which save service workers
money on their commutes, many other benefits of these programs accrue to workers, the
businesses that employ them, City government, and Palo Alto residents.
Workers
For service sector workers with a median annual income of $31,200, a benefit worth between
$905 and $2,250 per year makes a big difference. Figure 3 below shows the annual income of
service sector workers who complete applications for either transit passes, Waze carpool, or Lyft
ride benefits.
Workers who mode shift not only save money on variable personal vehicle costs such as
gasoline, maintenance, and repairs, they also avoid the expense of potential parking tickets, and
escape the stress of having to drive in traffic congestion. PATMA benefit recipients report that
after commuting by train or bus they are better able to focus on work because they do not need
to leave work every two hours to move their car. The workers who commute by active mobility
mode enjoy the benefits of exercise that allow them to arrive at work energized and refreshed.
Businesses
For business owners and managers, PATMA’s mode shift work gives them a competitive
advantage over similar businesses in nearby cities. Free transit passes help shops and
restaurants attract and retain workers in a competitive industry. The service sector has a high
turnover rate. According to managers in Palo Alto’s restaurants, annual employee turnover
downtown is about 200% overall (16% monthly). TMA’s commute benefit program provides
small businesses with a valuable perk that has helped reduce turnover by half. In Figure 4,
compare the percent turnover of PATMA’s transit passes to the 16% turnover of Palo Alto’s
service sector in general.
6
Figure 4: Number of transit passes activated
PATMA’s mode shift programs are appreciated by service sector managers who experience less
turnover and employees who save money on their transportation costs.
Testimonials
The following feedback from managers and employees of local businesses and non-profits show
how much PATMA’s programs mean to the community.
Passes Activated 78 84 67 93 101 105 105 102 103 108 119 129
New applications 13 7 5 7 6 4 7 7 9 9 14 16
Turnover 0 1 0 3 7 5 10 10 8 4 0 0
Percent turnover 0.0%1.0%0.0%3.2%6.9%4.8%9.5%9.8%7.8%6.1%0.0%0.0%
Cal Ave passes 6 5 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 4 7
Mar '21 Jul '21Transit Passes Jan '21 Oct '21 Nov '21 Dec '21Feb '21 Apr '21 May '21 Jun '21 Aug '21 Sep '21
Figure 3: Annual income of PATMA transit pass recipients
Source: Applications from service sector workers for PATMA mode shift programs
7
“Using the PATMA Clipper Card helps my
household in multiple ways: it allows us to own
ONE fewer car (and associated costs) and
makes me a better family member and
employee by not having to worry about moving
my car. During work I’m able to be more
attentive to our customers and less stressed
from driving the commute.”
- Sue M., downtown retail employee
(Caltrain pass)
The Clipper Card “saves me from the traffic
from San Jose to Palo Alto and wear and
tear on my truck every day to and from
work.”
- Ruben M., Manager, Downtown Streets
Team (Caltrain pass)
8
“The transit pass program is an
important incentive for our employees. The
program allows employees to get to work
without driving their vehicles which means
fewer cars on Palo Alto’s residential streets and
more parking spaces downtown for our
customers.”
- Alejandra M., Human Resources Director,
Coupa Café
“Over the past two years, I have witnessed
the positive impact of PATMA’s
transportation program, specifically the
TMA transit passes, on the ability of our
employees to commute to our shop while
aligning with the company’s environmental
values. The ability to have an inexpensive
and convenient way to commute allows us
to recruit and retain staff in a very expensive
cost of living market.” - Nathaniel D., Store
Manager, Patagonia
Other testimonials from transit pass recipients include:
“I am very grateful for the transit pass, thank you so much. It’s a great help for workers in Palo
Alto.” - Ana Flores, Coconuts Restaurant (SamTrans pass)
“I appreciate that the City of Palo Alto helps us to save money especially right now with the high
price of gas. It improves my quality of life by making the commute easy and saving money on
other expenses. Thank you so much for supporting lower income workers.” - Lili Yang, Walgreens
Community Pharmacy (Caltrain pass)
9
TMA programs not only benefit the business community but also help the City of Palo Alto
realize its various goals.
City of Palo Alto
Municipal governments oversee the wellbeing of residents and workers within the city’s
boundaries and PATMA’s programs on the City’s behalf reduce traffic congestion, free up
parking spaces downtown, and enhance the quality of life for residents by reducing the number
of cars parked in neighborhoods and helping small businesses attract and retain workers. Mode
shift to mass transit and active mobility options reduces greenhouse gas emissions which helps
the City move closer to its S/CAP 80x30 goal. Commute survey work by the TMA in 2021 assisted
the City by updating the Business Registry with more current details about the commercial
sector. To top it off, each time a TMA staff member physically hands a free Clipper Card to a
service sector worker, we are providing something that is valuable to them while we thank them
for their contribution to the quality of life in Palo Alto.
PATMA’s Top Five Accomplishments in 2021
The first year of the pandemic decimated PATMA and since that time we have been building the
program back up. As we sought to further streamline and pivot in ways that allowed us to meet
the moment, the following are our top five accomplishments.
1. Rebuilt the program
from a low of 54 to 132
people served.
2. Further streamlined
program operation of
Clipper Cards: processing
new requests,
communicating about
pass renewals,
purchasing new passes,
replacing lost passes,
monitoring accounts,
and distributing new
passes.
3. Applied for and received
49 free Caltrain GoPasses to distribute to low wage service sector workers, dramatically
reducing transit pass subsidy costs.
4. Applied for and received a $100,000 grant in a highly competitive process with the federal
Transportation Research Board. The grant allowed us to create a unique, tailored software
Figure 5: Single-occupancy vehicles removed
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Transit: cars removed Waze: cars removed Lyft: cars removed
10
app that incentivizes bicycle commuting into downtown and California Ave with the support
of ByCycling.
5. Conducted business development to expand funding sources with fee-for-service
transportation demand management programs.
Diversifying Funding Sources
PATMA continues to look for ways to lower operational costs and diversify funding sources.
Caltrain’s September 2021 grant of 49 GoPasses accomplished both.
GoPasses
In mid-2021, with many of its tech company employees working from home, Intuit donated 700
unused GoPasses to Caltrain in part to help Caltrain rebuild its ridership. In the same spirit, MTC
donated Clipper Cards. With these donations in hand, Caltrain asked non-profits and
community-based organizations in the region to apply for GoPasses that they could distribute to
their community members. In September 2021, Caltrain approved 49 GoPasses for PATMA
which were good through the end of the calendar year. This gift saved PATMA $25,000 on transit
passes over four months as PATMA operations staff converted 87.5% of the Caltrain passes we
were purchasing on a monthly basis over to GoPasses.
This program builds on Caltrain’s equity analysis which was completed in January 2021. Caltrain
reviewed the GoPass program in which tech companies purchased bulk-discounted annual
GoPasses for all company employees at a much lower rate than the market price: $342/year for
GoPasses purchases versus $1,570/year for the market rate for Caltrain passes.
Highlights of Caltrain’s equity analysis found that the transit agency “shall prioritize the needs of
riders and communities who depend on transit for essential travel;” and committed to “enhance
equity in its system, making its services more accessible and relevant to lower income people
and members of racial groups and communities who have historically been marginalized and
overlooked in planning and government processes.” The GoPass program helps Caltrain make
good on these commitments and plans to continue the program through 2022.
231 Grant Avenue
In another step toward diversifying funding sources, PATMA staff has been conducting business
development to find opportunities for transportation demand management (TDM) fee-for-
service work. The educator workforce housing development planned for 231 Grant Ave in Palo
Alto is an example of this type of work. PATMA developed a Collaborative TDM Strategies
Analysis for Abode Communities and Mercy Housing regarding the planned development for 110
new housing units for teachers, faculty and staff at 231 Grant Ave. TDM measures outlined
include:
• Green transportation pledge and early touchpoints
• Community-based travel planning
11
• Bicycling promotion
• Caltrain GoPasses
• Transit discounts
• Ridesharing
• Transit oriented development built-in trip reduction
• Consolidated package delivery
• Commute and travel surveys
• Transit screen in the library
• Program metrics and reporting
The analysis includes other, more aspirational TDM measures as well then evaluates
combinations of TDM programs that will cost-effectively achieve required vehicle miles traveled
reductions and trip caps given base conditions.
Marriott Hotels
For two new Marriott hotels at 744-750 San Antonio Rd., PATMA helped write their TDM plan in
2021. The plan includes 33 trip reduction measures in four categories: TDM infrastructure, guest
programs, employee programs, and dual guest and employee programs that would reduce peak
hour trips by 20%. Of these 33 TDM measures, Marriott will be responsible for 22 and PATMA
will administer 11. Once the Marriotts’ TDM plans are approved by the City, PATMA will provide
fee-for-TDM-service for the hotels.
Current PATMA Funding and Expenses
PATMA was awarded $350,000 by the City of Palo Alto for Fiscal Year 2021 which spanned July 1,
2020 through June 30, 2021. Funding was allocated and expenses incurred in support of
PATMA’s mission to “reduce SOV trips, traffic congestion and demand for parking by delivering
targeted transportation solutions to Palo Alto’s diverse range of employers, employees, visitors
and residents.”
Figure 6 illustrates the breakout of program funding and expenses including one-quarter of the
$100,000 grant from the federal Transportation Research Board.
12
Figure 6: Overview of 2021 income and expenses
Figure 7: Detailed 2021 income and expenses
Category Jan '21 Feb '21 Mar '21 Apr '21 May '21 Jun '21 Jul '21 Aug '21 Sep '21 Oct '21 Nov '21 Dec '21
INCOME
City of Palo Alto $87,500 $10,000 $87,500 $175,000
Amazon $10,000
TOTAL INCOME $87,500 $10,000 $87,500 $175,000 $10,000
EXPENSES
Altrans Management $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324
Biz (rent, office, ins,
etc)$42 $64 $42 $654 $244 $321 $63 $420 $237 $1,178 $288 $133
Lyft $1,474 $1,526 $1,672 $1,589 $1,538 $1,588 $1,747 $1,338 $1,366 $1,188 $1,209 $1,218
Pgm Operation -
Altrans Labor $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324 $6,324
Adjusted Transit -
clipper $11,592 $12,619 $10,557 $11,214 $11,954 $11,923 $12,993 $12,292 $8,282 $6,283 $7,557 $9,323
Transit - refunds ($922)($981)($964)($780)($131)
Waze Carpool $9 $15 $138 $27 $117
Commute Survey $12,500 $12,500
TRB Grant $7,500
TOTAL EXPENSES $25,757 $25,936 $23,948 $26,106 $26,400 $26,481 $27,452 $25,735 $22,672 $21,324 $40,921 $35,809
13
Figure 8 shows the breakdown of expenses from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
TMA management expenses include program oversight, communications with stakeholders,
finance and accounting activities, managing board meetings, maintaining 501c3 non-profit
status, tax filing, and pursuing business development opportunities to diversify funding sources;
whereas program operation labor involves processing new transit pass requests, communicating
about pass renewals, purchasing new passes, replacing lost passes, distributing new passes, and
monitoring accounts.
Figure 8: PATMA expenses
Expenses in 2021 totaled $317,372.
Program Results
The results of the TMA’s program management, outreach, and program operation labor in
Figure 9 – Figure 13 depict the number of single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) commuters shifted,
number of transit passes distributed at specific businesses in Palo Alto, the cost per SOV
avoided, the number of avoided vehicle miles travelled, and tons of greenhouse gas reduced.
Figure 9: Number of commuters shifted from single-occupancy vehicles
PATMA Expenses Q1 '21 Q2 '21 Q3 '21 Q4 '21
TMA Management $18,973 $18,973 $18,973 $18,973
Program Operation Labor $18,973 $18,973 $18,973 $18,973
Transit Passes $22,353 $34,941 $32,095 $22,251
Waze Carpool (Google)$9 $15 $138 $144
Lyft $4,672 $4,715 $4,452 $3,615
Commute Survey $0 $0 $0 $25,000
TRB Grant $0 $0 $0 $7,500
Rent, office, insurance, legal $149 $1,220 $720 $1,599
Total $65,129 $78,837 $75,351 $98,055
Q1 '21 Q2 '21 Q3 '21 Q4 '21
Transit pass subsidy 76.3 99.7 103.3 118.7
Waze carpool 0 0.1 0 0.7
Lyft 7.9 7.7 6.1 5.2
Total 84.2 107.5 109.4 124.6
14
Figure 10: Number of transit passes distributed by employer
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Westin Hotel 11 Warby Parker 2 MNT Studio 1
Downtown Streets Team 7 Yayoi 2 Nola 1
Crepevine 6 AT&T 1 Onigilly 1
Apple 5 Bell’s Books 1 PAMF 1
Nobu Hotel 5 BitGo 1 Patagonia 1
Patxi’s Pizza 5 Bryant St Gallery 1 Peninsula Creamery 1
Sheraton Hotel 5 Buca di Beppo 1 Pizz’a Chicago 1
Whole Foods 5 Coconuts 1 Pizzeria Delfina 1
Coupa Cafe 3 Connie Ho MD 1 Protégé 1
Oren’s Hummus 3 Creamery 1 Sephora 1
Reposado 3 Dickey’s BBQ 1 The Hamilton 1
Rooh 3 Downtown
Kindercare
1 Pace Gallery 1
Webster House 3 Ettan 1 Verve Coffee 1
Clement Hotel 2 Footwear 1 Wahlburger 1
Lytton Gardens 2 Gobble 1 Watercourse Day Spa 1
Palo Alto Bicycles 2 Gong Cha 1 West Elm 1
San Agus Cocina 2 Hana Haus 1 Zareen’s 1
Starbucks 2 La Bodeguita del
Medio
1
Sweetgreen 2 Massage Therapy
Center
1
Figure 11: Cost per SOV avoided per year
Over the four quarters of this annual report, the cost per transit pass subsidy falls dramatically.
Part of the reason is that Caltrain gave a 20% discount from April to September 2021 at which
point they then provided a 50% discount. This was done to help rebuild their ridership.
Figure 12: Avoided vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
Totaled for the year, PATMA programs reduced vehicle miles travelled by 619,620.
Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021
Transit pass subsidy 1,722$ 1,405$ 1,242$ 1,161$
Waze carpool 905$ 905$ -$ -$
Lyft program 2,428$ 2,516$ 2,476$ 2,250$
Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021
Transit pass subsidy 117,395 153,279 158,918 182,500
Waze carpool 73 122 - 1,444
Lyft program 1,414 1,672 1,695 1,108
Total VMT avoided 118,882 155,073 160,613 185,052
15
Figure 13: Greenhouse gases reduced (tons)
In CY 2021, PATMA reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 255 tons.
Conclusion
As the public health situation continues to evolve and we monitor discussions about the return
to office, PATMA will continue to grow and evolve our programs to help more commuters shift
out of single-occupancy vehicles. We believe that with targeted outreach and motivational
incentives, we will be able to move hundreds more people out of SOVs and back into mass
transit and active mobility options. In support of this mode shift goal, PATMA will continue to
pursue diverse funding streams that will allow us to expand our efforts to address social equity
and climate change issues while reducing the City’s foundational concerns about traffic
congestion and available parking in commercial areas and the surrounding residential areas.
Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021
Transit passes and
Waze carpool 49 64 66 76
`
Three Year Strategic Plan
July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025
Submitted to the Palo Alto City Council for the PATMA Study Session
Prepared by:
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
ALTRANS TMA Inc
855 El Camino Real #13A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
www.paloaltotma.org
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Current Programs .......................................................................................................................................... 2
New Programs ............................................................................................................................................... 2
Value of TMA ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Strategic Planning ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Workplan ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
Budget Projections ........................................................................................................................................ 7
1
Three Year Strategic Plan
FY 2023-2025
Executive Summary
The Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) has diversified its funding
sources to introduce new programs and expand beyond the downtown and California Ave
areas. Over the next year, we will continue to apply for additional funding from potential
Climate Partners and Equity Partners that will allow us to grow the number and types of
programs we offer, and expand our services to more parts of Palo Alto.
In consideration of the constraints on the University Avenue Parking Fund revenues over the
past two years, and in the interest of rebuilding existing mode shift programs, PATMA requests
a budget of $200,000 for FY 2022-23.
Introduction
The next year will be a time of pivoting and rebuilding.
Right before the pandemic started, the Palo Alto TMA
helped 387 service sector workers shift out of single
occupancy vehicles (SOVs) and into mass transit, carpools
or early morning/late night ride-sharing services. In April
2020, that number fell to 54. For health and safety reasons,
essential workers who needed to be onsite to do their jobs
fled mass transit and carpools to commute in SOVs. Now
that society has tools to manage the risks of the pandemic – vaccines, boosters, masks, social
distancing, improved ventilation systems and cleaning protocols on mass transit – and keeping
in mind changes in travel mode preferences, it’s time to take a look at how PATMA can pivot to
meet the moment.
When the Palo Alto City Council decided to form PATMA in 2013, the stated goals of the
founders included reducing SOV trips, traffic congestion, and demand for parking downtown
and in surrounding neighborhoods. In 2021, we overlaid the City Council’s strategic priorities of
economic recovery, housing, social equity, and climate change to focus our non-profit's efforts.
PATMA’s programs help address all of these goals and priorities by providing essential workers
– mostly in food service, retail, and accommodation – with commute counseling, access to free
transit passes, and early morning/late night ride-sharing services.
Given the changes the pandemic has wrought as well as changing societal preferences, this plan
will explain how PATMA will diversify funding sources and develop new programs that serve a
Mission
The Palo Alto TMA reduces single
occupancy vehicle trips, traffic
congestion and demand for parking
by delivering targeted transportation
solutions to Palo Alto’s diverse range
of employers, employees, visitors and
residents.
2
broader geographic area than downtown and California Avenue, while reducing the cost per
SOV diverted, greenhouse gases, and vehicle miles traveled.
Current Programs
In December 2021, PATMA removed 132 cars from the road by helping service workers in Palo
Alto access train and bus passes, carpool rides, and early morning/late night Lyft rides. An
overview of PATMA’s metrics in December 2021 includes 132 single-occupancy vehicles
diverted by providing:
o 41 GoPasses1
o 20 Caltrain passes
o 30 VTA bus passes
o 36 SamTrans bus passes
o 2 Dumbarton Transbay bus passes
o multiple Waze carpool rides equivalent to 1 rider
o 4 Lyft riders
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, PATMA programs eliminated 619,620
vehicle miles traveled and avoided 255 tons of greenhouse gases in support of the City of Palo
Alto’s Sustainability/Climate Action Plan work.
New Programs
Bike Love Incentive Program
The Palo Alto TMA is developing a first-in-the-world “Bike Love” pilot with software partner
ByCycling. This program will provide daily incentives for verifiable active mode first-mile
commute trips to transit and active mode commutes from home to work, up to $599 per year
per commuter. Geofenced location tracking will confirm bike, e-bike, e-scooter, and e-
skateboard trips. Within 60 seconds, incentive dollars may be redeemed at local merchants via
Apple/Google Wallet e-debit cards. By restricting transaction authorization to local merchants,
program funds are recycled back into the local economy, multiplying program impact. Bike Love
scales to other cities and major employer commute programs, increasing transit ridership at no
cost to transit operators.
The process of securing the $100,000 Transit IDEA grant from the federal Transportation
Research Board was highly competitive. Forty projects applied for grant funding and only two,
including PATMA’s Bike Love project, won. Our long list of research partners, many of whom
wrote letters of support, helped us secure a winning proposal. The twenty research partners
include the City of Palo Alto, City of Menlo Park, City of Redwood City, local retailer Palo Alto
1 In 2021, a large number of GoPasses were donated by a tech company and given to Caltrain to distribute to
community-based organizations like PATMA.
3
Bicycles, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Bay Area
Metropolitan Transportation Commission, American Public Transit Association, Caltrain, Valley
Transportation Authority, Los Angeles Metro, Commute.org, Austin Capital Metro Transit,
Caltrain’s secure bike storage vendors (BikeHub, eLock, and BikeLink), fintech industry leaders
(Virtual Incentives, Marqeta, and Sutton Bank), and ALTRANS TMA, Inc. Bike Love’s total budget,
including partner in-kind matching, is $346,000.
The project kicked off in February 2021 with a software development and validation phase
which will be followed by a 10-month deployment phase. As we develop and implement the
Bike Love app to incentivize commuting to Palo Alto job sites, the team will measure program
efficacy and determine scalability as we build toward 90 users at the end of the first year. For a
quick overview, please visit this link: Bike Love in 80 seconds (video)
E-bike Loaner Program
PATMA is planning an electric bike loaner program patterned on Santa Barbara’s EZ Bike
program. Each week, Santa Barbara loaned out e-bikes to residents for five days at a time and
through post-loan surveys found that 38% of those who borrowed an e-bike purchased their
own e-bike within two months. Program planning is in the beginning stages for PATMA’s own e-
bike loaner program. Given the many benefits of e-bikes, we expect an uptick in bicycling as the
preferred method of transportation for commuting and personal trips around town as a result
of this new program.
Value of Palo Alto TMA
Local businesses in the downtown and California Avenue areas contribute to a delightful quality
of life in Palo Alto. During the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, many of these
businesses struggled to retain and attract staff. PATMA’s program support of free transit passes
gives local businesses a competitive advantage for staffing.
As workers Return to Office, PATMA has an opportunity to shape future workers’ commuting
habits by diverting SOV drivers to mass transit and active mobility modes. This will reduce the
number of cars parking downtown and in neighborhoods which North Palo Alto residents will
appreciate.
City government benefits from the annual commute survey PATMA undertakes which helps to
update the Business Registry, as well as PATMA’s work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
vehicle miles traveled.
Palo Alto’s Sustainability/Climate Action Plan Work
The City of Palo Alto demonstrated its leadership on climate change in 2016 when setting an
ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal: 80% below 1990 levels by 2030. Since 65%
of the current GHG emissions come from the transportation sector, PATMA is positioned to play
4
a key role in realizing this goal by raising awareness about the benefits of mode shift, offering
commute counseling, and providing incentives for mode shift.
According to the June 7, 2021 Palo Alto Action Impact Memo from AECOM, which details
actions that can reduce 184,173 metric tons of CO2 equivalents/year and achieve an 71%
reduction of GHGs below 1990 levels by 2030, a little over 10% of those potential emission
reductions are expected to come from mobility shifts commuters (15,157 MT CO2e/year) and
residents (4,392 MT CO2e/year) could make. In the next three years, PATMA plans to work on
the following in support of the City’s commendable GHG reduction goals.
Strategic Planning
In November and December 2021, PATMA’s Board of Directors met three times to discuss
strategic planning issues. The following goals, strategies, objectives and strategic planning
matrix came out of these meetings.
Goals
Planning for the next three years, the PATMA board of directors would like to accomplish the
following goals:
• Help rebuild mass transit
ridership to pre-pandemic
levels
• Shape the future of
commuting in Palo Alto as
workers Return to Office
(RTO)
• Support local businesses in
food service, retail, and
accommodation to speed
the economic recovery
• Help address climate
change
• Diversify funding sources
• Raise awareness about and incentivize active mobility options
• Expand PATMA services to parts of Palo Alto beyond downtown and California Avenue
• Manage cash flow in the face of possible changing conditions
Strategies
The following strategies will help us achieve goals outlined above:
• Apply for additional funding from new funding sources interested in supporting
greenhouse gas reductions and social equity issues
Figure 1: SOVs Diverted
5
• Introduce new programs to raise awareness about active mobility travel options and
incentivize the switch
• Connect PATMA programs with Sustainability/Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) greenhouse
gas reduction goals
• Use additional funding sources to offer current and new programs in new markets
Objectives
Specific, measurable objectives for the next year that will help us achieve these goals include:
• Increasing the number of transit passes distributed to low wage service sector workers
back to the pre-pandemic level (387 SOV diverted) if funding allows
• Reducing the cost per SOV diverted ($1,382.50/SOV in 2021)
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector (65% in Palo Alto’s
greenhouse gas emissions inventory)
• Reducing vehicle miles traveled
• Encouraging mode shift for residents’ personal trips around town
• Adding two board members in 2022 for a total of five board members
Figure 2: Strategic Planning Matrix
Existing Programs New Programs
Existing Markets (downtown
and California Ave)
Transit pass program
Lyft before/after hours
Bicycling incentive pilot
E-bike loaner pilot
New Markets (Town &
Country, El Camino Real, San
Antonio Ave.)
Expand existing programs
throughout the city with
diversified funding sources
Bicycling incentive pilot
E-bike loaner pilot
Workplan
Year 1
In the next year, PATMA is planning to rebuild partially to the pre-pandemic level of SOV
diversion, diversify funding sources, and lower the cost/SOV diverted. The following seven tasks
are planned for FY 2023: adding two new board members, creating a marketing plan, beta
testing and rolling out our new BikeLove incentive app, developing and rolling out an electric
bike loaner program, conducting the 2022 commute survey, coordinating with nearby TMAs to
share best practices, as well as continuing to provide existing commute counseling and free
transit passes. Figure 3 shows the timeframe for each task.
6
Figure 3: Year 1 Workplan
7/
22
8/
22
9/
22
10/
22
11/
22
12/
22
1/
23
2/
23
3/
23
4/
23
5/
23
6/
23
Task 1 – Add two new board
members
Task 2 – Create marketing plan
Task 3 – Beta test and roll out Bike
Love incentive program
Task 4 – Develop and roll out e-bike
loaner program
Task 5 –Conduct 2022 commute
survey
Task 6 – Coordinate best practices
with nearby TMAs
Task 7 – Continue providing existing
programs
As we secure additional funding, we would like to expand service to other parts of the city:
Town & Country Village, and businesses along El Camino Real and San Antonio Rd.
Year 2
In FY 2024, we plan to rebuild to the pre-pandemic level of transit passes and incorporate
lessons learned from the bicycle incentive program and e-bike loaner program. Based on how
the public health situation evolves, we plan to expand programs in ways that make sense with
the emerging situation.
We will continue to track developments of the Caltrain electrification project which will attract
additional riders once it is complete and explore possible new ways to educate and incentivize
workers for first/last mile travel options. We will also continue to monitor developments for
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) apps that help riders more efficiently plan, pay for, and transfer
between multiple commute modes, as well as the development of a bicycle superhighway on El
Camino Real.
Year 3
In FY 2025, we will identify service gaps to develop new programs and implement emerging
mobility technology while continuing to expand programs that divert SOVs and reduce traffic
congestion downtown, in the Cal Ave business district, and in other parts of the city. We will
build upon bicycle and e-bicycle programs for commuters who live within 6 miles of work and
residents who would prefer to run errands with an active mobility mode.
7
Budget Projections
Looking back at funding levels since the start of the Palo Alto TMA, the program grew over
several years and demonstrated successes with SOV diversion, GHG reduction, and VMT
reduction until the pandemic hit.
• FY 2016 - $100,000
• FY 2017 - $100,000
• FY 2018 - $480,000
• FY 2019 - $480,000
• FY 2020 - $750,000
• FY 2021 - $350,000
• FY 2022 - $150,000
As we seek to build the program back, PATMA’s funding request for FY 2023 is $200,000.
Reasons that factor into this funding level request include:
• University Ave Parking Fund revenues are down from pre-pandemic levels and it is
unclear when they will rebound.
• Many businesses and government agencies are planning a Return to Office (RTO) this
spring and summer which, depending on future Covid strains and public health
department guidance, may be curtailed.
• Office workers who have been working from home (WFH) have shown they are as
productive if not more productive than when they commuted to an office. A RTO may
be a few days/week instead of the pre-pandemic five days per week.
• Reduced risk of taking mass transit - Vaccination and booster rates in the Bay Area are
high. People are accustomed to wearing masks in public areas. Mass transit systems
have upgraded onboard ventilation systems and have rigorous cleaning protocols in
place.
• PATMA is diversifying its funding streams as it pivots to add an active mobility incentive
and e-bike loaner program.
• PATMA would like to continue serving the frontline essential employees working in food
service, retail, and accommodation with subsidies of transit passes, early morning/late
night rides home, and soon bicycling programs.
With cost of living adjustments from the FY 2022 budget, an assumption that GoPass donations
will continue through the end of 2022, the balance of the Transportation Research Board grant,
and income of $200,000 from the City of Palo Alto, PATMA projects the following budget for FY
2023.
8
Figure 4: FY 2023 Income and Expenses
As circumstances change, we have the ability to adjust our income and expenses through
various financial levers.
● reducing labor costs
● reducing program costs via throttling
● requesting additional GoPasses from Caltrain and large employers in the area
● increasing grant writing and philanthropic fundraising
● growing our fee-for-TDM planning and program administration business
● pursuing short-term loans
While PATMA’s FY 2023 budget request is for $200,000, with higher levels of funding, PATMA
could serve more people with transit passes, Lyft early morning/late night rides home, and
bicycle incentives. Consider Figure 5 which provides the return on investment for various levels
of funding: 175, 325, 430, 585 or 740 single occupancy vehicles removed. Note that the cost per
SOV diverted will fall as we provide relatively more bicycle incentives and fewer transit passes.
Figure 5: ROI for Various Levels of Funding
Category Jul '22 Aug '22 Sep '22 Oct '22 Nov '22 Dec '22 Jan '23 Feb '23 Mar '23 Apr '23 May '23 Jun '23
INCOME
City of Palo Alto $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Amazon $10,000
TRB Bike Love Grant $ 40,000 $ 15,000 $ 20,000 $25,000
TOTAL INCOME $40,000 $ 15,000 $50,000 $0 $10,000 $ 70,000 $0 $0 $50,000 $0 $0 $50,000
EXPENSES
Altrans Management $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640
Biz (software, office
supplies, insur, etc.)$322 $322 $322 $322 $322 $322 $322 $322 $322 $322 $322 $322
Lyft $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454 $1,454
Program Operation -
Altrans Labor $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640 $6,640
Adjusted Transit - Clipper
Cards $14,640 $14,347 $14,060 $13,779 $13,503 $13,233 $12,969 $12,709 $12,455 $12,206 $11,962 $11,723
BikeLove Incentives $500 $500 $1,000 $1,000 $1,500 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 $3,000 $3,500 $4,000 $4,500
Commute Survey $16,250 $16,250
TRB Grant $ 40,000 $ 15,000 $20,000 25,000
TOTAL EXPENSES $30,197 $69,904 $45,117 $29,836 $46,310 $46,040 $50,026 $30,266 $30,512 $55,763 $31,019 $31,280
Q1 Q2Q3Q4
Cost per
worker
# SOV
diverted
# SOV
diverted
# SOV
diverted
# SOV
diverted
# SOV
diverted
Transit passes 1,383$ 150 207,375$ 250 345,625$ 300 414,750$ 350 483,875$ 400 553,000$
Lyft 2,250$ 15 33,750$ 25 56,250$ 30 67,500$ 35 78,750$ 40 90,000$
Bicycle incentives 599$ 10 5,990$ 50 29,950$ 100 59,900$ 200 119,800$ 300 179,700$
175 247,115$ 325 431,825$ 430 542,150$ 585 682,425$ 740 822,700$
Management and
Operations Labor $152,000 $167,200 $182,400 $197,600 $212,800
Cost 399,115$ 599,025$ 724,550$ 880,025$ 1,035,500$
9
Conclusion
We have a rare opportunity to shape the future of commuting in Palo Alto. The pandemic forced people
who could work from home to do so and shifted essential workers to single-occupancy vehicles for
health and safety reasons. Now that we have tools to manage risks with the public health situation,
PATMA could play a bigger role in rebuilding new travel habits that take advantage of the area’s transit
pipelines and bicycling infrastructure.
With so many uncertainties around Return to Office, commute patterns, the public health situation, as
well as the continuing development of mass transit infrastructure, first/last mile active mobility options,
and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) technologies to help plan, pay for and manage the commute; PATMA
will continue to monitor opportunities to better serve our target audience with the latest information
and incentives that enable mode shift. We will also continue to look for additional funding opportunities
with potential Climate Partners and Equity Partners as the more funding we have, the more people we
can help.
2021 Commute Survey
Highlights
Between October and December 2021, Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) staff
surveyed workers at 1,615 organizations in the University Avenue Downtown and California Avenue (Cal
Ave) areas to learn about their commute habits and preferences. Staff conducted online and in-person
surveys in English and Spanish through door-to-door canvassing, cold calling, and mass emailing. This
document provides the highlights of the survey’s findings.
The total worker population for the Downtown and Cal Ave areas, according to U.S. Census
“OnTheMap” data, shows 16,961 workers in census tracts in the University Ave downtown area and
3,056 workers in census tracts in the Cal Ave area. The PATMA 2021 commute survey interviewed 362
people in Downtown, 29 people on Cal Ave, and 160 City staff who work in other areas of town.
Performing a survey
during the pandemic
presented challenges
including the large
number of people
working from home,
buildings that were
closed to the public,
and the high amount of
vacant office space.
Among workers
surveyed in the
government, light
office, service, and
technology sectors,
Figure 1 shows how
COVID impacted
employment Downtown
and on Cal Ave. Large numbers of government and light office employees started working from home.
Many service sector workers experienced reduced hours or quit. Of the two large tech firms that
participated in the 2019 commute survey, one did not participate in this year’s survey and the other
moved its offices out of Palo Alto.
Part of the purpose of the PATMA commute survey is to better understand how employees travel to and
from work. Figure 2 tracks mode share – either driving single-occupancy vehicles (SOV), taking mass
transit, walking/biking, carpooling, or telecommuting – over the past six commute surveys and
illustrates that mass transit ridership fell precipitously last year while telecommuting and SOV driving
rose. For health and safety reasons, workers who could work from home during COVID did and more
people who commuted to jobs drove their personal vehicles.
Figure 1: COVID impact on employment
Workers on Cal Ave, who were included for the first time in this survey, showed higher rates of SOV
driving and much lower rates of transit riding and telecommuting than Downtown workers. Figure 3
compares mode share for the two commercial districts.
Figure 2: Overall Downtown commute mode share
Figure 3: Downtown v. California Ave Commute Mode Share Comparison
In terms of where workers are commuting from, Figure 4 shows the home zip codes of survey
respondents. The zip code with the darkest shade, containing 31 respondents, is 94303 in East Palo Alto.
Survey data show that 9% of workers live within Palo Alto; 16% come from the neighboring communities
of East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale; and 18% of workers
surveyed commute from San Jose.
As we plan future PATMA programs for workers that inform them about alternative commute options
and provide incentives to mode shift, a few findings from this year’s commute survey will be useful.
• 59% of workers surveyed earned less than $70,000/year (the threshold for participation in our
free transit pass and Lyft guaranteed ride home programs)
• 37% of respondents expressed interest in our upcoming BikeLove incentive program (up to
$599/year for active commutes to the geofenced destination of the Downtown area)
• 58% of businesses in the two main commercial areas are in light office (medical offices, financial,
legal, accounting) which shows the opportunity to develop programs that meet their needs
Figure 4: Zip code mapping (531 respondents)