HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2404-2932CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, May 20, 2024
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
14.Palo Alto Transportation Management Association 2023 Annual Report, Strategic Plan,
and Commute Survey
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: May 20, 2024
Report #:2404-2932
TITLE
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association 2023 Annual Report, Strategic Plan, and
Commute Survey
RECOMMENDATION
No action is recommended, this is for information only; 2023 Annual Report, Strategic Plan, and
Commute Survey by the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association. This report was
discussed with the Finance Committee on April 23, 2024 and is being transmitted for compliance
with the contractual agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Finance Committee Staff Report on 2023 Palo Alto TMA Annual Report, 2024
Strategic Plan, and 2023 Commute Survey
APPROVED BY:
Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official
Finance Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: April 23, 2024
Report #:2403-2761
TITLE
Receive and Discuss the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) 2023
Annual Report, Strategic Plan, and Commute Survey
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and provide input on the 2023 Annual Report, Strategic Plan, and Commute Survey
presentation by the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association and discuss its findings
to inform services and funding needs.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City contracts with the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (TMA) to
implement 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 and requires the TMA to report on the use of these funds. The
attached Annual Report covers the 2023 calendar year, detailing how the City’s contribution
was used to support SOV trip reduction, including the results of the Fall 2023 Commute Survey.
The attachment also includes the 2024 TMA Strategic Plan. The work of the TMA supports the
City’s Sustainability and Climate Action Goals by working to reduce vehicle miles traveled and
increasing the mode share for active transportation and transit.
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
1 Report #4766: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/43344
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 formalized the provision of additional City funding for TMA programs by
executing a $100,000 funding agreement between the City of Palo Alto, the Silicon Valley
Community Foundation (SVCF), and the Palo Alto TMA to reduce single-occupancy vehicle (SOV)
commute trips to and from downtown Palo Alto.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.
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. 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 FY 2020 budget recommendation by $90,000 from the University Avenue Parking Permit
Fund for a total amount of $750,000 and a subsequent amendment was executed to implement
this. 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 Plan.4 In that
month, the Council considered its annual budget during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 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
2 Report #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
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
agreement expired in FY 2023 and again delegated authority to the City Manager to amend the
agreement to add funding if Council budgeted more funds. In June of 2021, Council allocated
$150,000 in funds for the TMA for FY2022 and in June of 2022, allocated $200,000 in funds for
FY 2023.
A new three-year funding agreement was approved by City Council in September of 2023,
providing $200,000 for the TMA in FY 2024 and delegating authority to the City Manager to
amend the agreement to add funding if Council budgets more funds. This agreement also
allows the TMA to use $25,000 of City funds to reduce SOV trips anywhere in Palo Alto.6
ANALYSIS
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, biking, and
ride-share aimed at increasing all Downtown and California Avenue commuters’ use of
alternative modes of transportation. The attached Annual Report covers the 2023 calendar
year, detailing how public funds were spent to support SOV trip reduction, including the results
of the Fall 2023 Downtown Commute Survey. The attachment also includes the 2024-2027 TMA
Strategic Plan which is required to be updated by the funding agreement.
The Annual Report highlights several accomplishments, noting that in 2023 with $200,000 in
City funds, the TMA:
1. Rebuilt the transit pass program from a low of 28 people served in May 2020 to a high
of 257 in December 2023.
2. Scaled back the after-hours Lyft program to provide $10 credits rather than free fares
for rides after 10 pm Monday-Saturday and after 8pm on Sunday.
3. Completed two transit pass audits to ensure compliance with PATMA rules and guard
against fraud.
4. Received and activated 184 Caltrain GoPasses from the Caltrain GoPass Donation
Program to distribute to low wage service sector workers in 2023.
5. Received approval to continue distributing Caltrain GoPasses in 2024 to low wage
service sector workers to help rebuild Caltrain ridership.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The City’s S/CAP includes two mobility goals that are directly supported by the work of the
TMA:
6 Report #2308-1883:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=2983&meetingTemplateType=2
•Reduce total vehicle miles traveled 12% by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline, by
reducing commute vehicle miles traveled 20%, visitor vehicles miles traveled 10%, and
resident vehicle miles traveled 6%
•Increase the mode share for active transportation (walking, biking) and transit from 19%
to 40% of local work trips by 2030
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.
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.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Funding for the TMA in FY 2024 is sourced from the University Avenue Parking Fund ($175,000)
and General Fund ($25,000). The current funding agreement is a three-year agreement expiring
at the end of FY 2026 (June 30, 2026). Any additional funds to be paid to the TMA beyond FY
2024 require Council appropriation as part of the annual budget process and amendment of the
agreement. Funding of $200,000 was included in the FY 2025 Long Range Financial Forecast
reflecting base budget allocation.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Monthly Palo Alto TMA Board of Directors meetings are open to the public and occur from 9:00
- 10:00am on the third Thursday of the month. Information about board meetings can be found
at the Palo Alto TMA website: https://www.paloaltotma.org/
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The funding for PATMA and its associated scope of work is exempt from review under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) since it can be seen with certainty that there is no
possibility of a significant impact on the environment (State CEQA Guidelines Section
15061(b)(3)).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: 2023 Palo Alto TMA Annual Report, 2024 Strategic Plan, and 2023 Commute
Survey
APPROVED BY:
Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official
March 18, 2024
Palo Alto City Councilmembers
Subject: Three PATMA budget scenarios for FY 2025
Dear Councilmembers,
Please find below three different PATMA budget scenarios for the next fiscal year. As you know, we
received another generous allocation of Caltrain passes through the GoPass Donation Program for 2024.
These three scenarios offer varying levels of bus passes, Bike Love incentives, refurbished bike
distribution, and part-time contract labor that will further alleviate traffic congestion and demand for
parking in Palo Alto as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support community health.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Justine Burt
Executive Director, Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
Budget Scenarios
Current programs
Cost
per
worker
# SOV
diverted
Annual
cost
Cost
per
worker
# SOV
diverted Annual cost
Cost
per
worker
# SOV
diverted
Annual
cost
SamTrans passes 787$ 27 21,249$ 787$ 50 39,350$ 787$ 90 70,830$
VTA passes 1,080$ 32 34,560$ 1,080$ 52 56,160$ 1,080$ 90 97,200$
Dumbarton Express passes 2,592$ 6 15,552$ 2,592$ 12 31,104$ 2,592$ 25 64,800$
GoPass Donation Program -$ 169 -$ -$ 184 -$ -$ 250 -$
SamTrans passes (for GoPass
holders)787$ 4 3,148$ 787$ 8 6,296$ 787$ 20 15,740$
VTA passes (for GoPass
holders)1,080$ 10 10,800$ 1,080$ 22 23,760$ 1,080$ 30 32,400$
Current annual Lyft usage 4 10,113$ 8 10,113$ 12 10,113$
Bike Love incentives 660$ 10 6,600$ 660$ 22 14,520$ 660$ 40 26,400$ Buying refurbished bikes
(Bike Exchange) for essential
workers 400$ 4 4,000$ 400$ 8 8,000$ 400$ 12 12,000$
Labor (program management,
administration, commute
survey) and business costs 89,978$ 177,697$ 225,017$
New potential programs
Marketing outreach support 4,000$ 20,000$ 30,000$
Pass delivery admin support -$ 5,000$ 7,500$
Bike safety classes (quarterly)-$ 4,000$ 4,000$ Bike buddy wayfinding
support -$ 4,000$ 4,000$
Reduced demand for parking
spaces - every day, all year 266 366 569
Cost 200,000$ Cost 400,000$ Cost 600,000$
751.88$ 1,092.89$ 1,054.48$
2024-2025 Scenario 1 2024-2025 Scenario 2 2024-2025 Scenario 3
Cost/year to eliminate demand for 1 parking space
2023 Annual Report
Three-Year Strategic Plan (FY2025-27)
2023 Commute Survey
Submitted to the Palo Alto City Council and Finance Committee
March 18, 2024
Prepared by:
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
855 El Camino Real #13A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
www.paloaltotma.org
2023 Annual Report
January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Submitted to the Palo Alto City Council
Prepared by:
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
855 El Camino Real #13A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
www.paloaltotma.org
March 2024
Table of Contents
Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................1
PATMA Staff ................................................................................................................................2
Board of Directors .......................................................................................................................3
City of Palo Alto Priorities ............................................................................................................3
PATMA Programs ........................................................................................................................4
Benefits of PATMA Programs ......................................................................................................7
Program Results ..........................................................................................................................7
Testimonials ..............................................................................................................................10
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................13
1
2023 Annual Report
Executive Summary
In 2023, the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) successfully rebuilt to
pre-pandemic levels of service. The number of people who did not drive to work but rather
commuted by train, bus, or an active mobility option due to PATMA’s program support
rebounded to the level measured in early 2020.
More essential workers felt comfortable in 2023 taking the train or bus or tried PATMA’s
$5/day Bike Love reward program. Office workers settled into a hybrid schedule of commuting
and telework. Throughout it all, PATMA continued supporting workers who needed to
commute to their workplaces with existing programs and new pilot programs.
In 2023, PATMA diverted 266 single-occupancy vehicles from city streets, avoided 1,230,643
vehicle miles traveled, and reduced greenhouse gases by 506 tons by providing free transit
passes and after-hour Lyft rides. PATMA also continued the two programs to encourage active
mobility commuting: a $5/day reward for biking to work and a refurbished bicycle program for
essential workers. With this work, PATMA supported three of the 2023 Palo Alto City Council’s
four priorities: economic recovery, climate change, and community health.
Further streamlining of administrative activities and bolstering of oversight and governance
happened in 2023. PATMA lost one board member but gained two new board members.
Overall, the size of the board grew from seven to eight members with expanded representation
from the retail and food and beverage sectors.
With a foundation of dedicated staff, a committed board of directors, and the critical financial
support of the City of Palo Alto, PATMA looks forward to expanding pilot programs that were
begun in 2022 and 2023 and growing its impact among the community in 2024.
Introduction
The Palo Alto TMA is a non-profit working to reduce single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips, traffic
congestion, demand for parking and greenhouse gas emissions by delivering targeted
transportation solutions that serve Palo Alto’s diverse range of employers, employees, visitors,
and residents. Financial support for this work comes primarily from the City of Palo Alto’s
University Avenue and California Avenue parking fund. This funding allows PATMA to provide
free transit passes, $5/day Bike Love rewards, and late night Lyft rides chiefly to low wage
service sector workers in the two main commercial districts of Palo Alto.
The pandemic that hit in March 2020, dealt a blow to mass transit when more essential workers
who had to be physically present to do their jobs shifted to driving to work. Figure 1 shows the
2
precipitous drop in transit passes in early 2020 and the steady rebuilding of transit ridership
through the end of 2023.
Figure 1: Transit passes activated Q4 2019 – Q4 2023
As society learned to navigate the health and safety challenges COVID posed, PATMA worked to
rebuild mass transit ridership. This work and further details about PATMA’s impacts in 2023 are
provided below.
PATMA Staff
PATMA is a non-profit staffed with contractors from ALTRANS TMA Inc., a firm specializing in
transportation demand management (TDM). Part-time staff working for PATMA include:
● Justine Burt, Executive Director, PATMA
● Sana Ahmed, Program Coordinator, PATMA
● Stephen Blaylock, President, ALTRANS TMA Inc.
● Andrew Ridley, Chief Operating Officer, ALTRANS TMA Inc.
3
Board of Directors
In 2023, PATMA increased the size of its board, losing one member and adding two new
members. Representatives from the retail and food and beverage sectors helped diversify our
board whose members at the end of the year included:
● Cedric de la Beaujardiere, OpenGov (Board Chair)
● Rob George, Philz Coffee (Treasurer and a founding board member)
● Shannon Rose McEntee, resident (Secretary)
● Philip Kamhi, City of Palo Alto
● Brad Ehikian, Premier Properties
● Sebastian Mafla, Sheraton
● Nathaniel Duncan, Patagonia (new)
● Alejandra Mier, Coupa Cafe (new)
The board meets monthly on the third Thursday at 9:00am and efficiently works through one
hour of agenda items. Nearly all board members regularly attend. The public is encouraged to
join these virtual meetings which happen at this Zoom link. Here is a link to the recording of the
November 2023 board meeting.
City of Palo Alto Priorities
While the original motivation for the Palo Alto City Council to create PATMA was to alleviate
traffic congestion and reduce demand for parking downtown, each year, PATMA overlays the
City Council’s stated priorities to guide its work. In January 2023, the City Council announced its
priorities for the year:
1. Economic Recovery and Transition
2. Climate Change and the Natural Environment: Protection and Adaptation
3. Housing for Social and Economic Balance
4. Community Health and Safety
PATMA’s work supports three of these priorities: economic recovery, climate change, and
community health.
Sustainability/Climate Action Plan (S/CAP)
The City of Palo Alto set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by
2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2030. According to the City’s 2021 Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Inventory, the most recent available, on-road transportation emissions contribute
51.7% of emissions.
The S/CAP has two mobility goals relevant to PATMA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
including:
4
• Reducing total vehicle miles traveled 12% by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline, by
reducing commute vehicle miles traveled 20%, visitor vehicles miles traveled 10%, and
resident vehicle miles traveled 6%
• Increasing the mode share for active transportation (walking, biking) and transit from
19% to 40% of local work trips by 2030
S/CAP plans focus on launching effective programs for emissions reductions with the highest
impact and lowest cost. PATMA’s programs help accomplish this goal.
PATMA’s Top Five Accomplishments in 2023
Since 2020, when the number of essential workers commuting by mass transit fell dramatically,
PATMA has been rebuilding program numbers. In this spirit, the following are PATMA’s top five
accomplishments in 2023.
1. Rebuilt the transit pass program from a low of 28 people served in May 2020 to a high
of 257 in December 2023.
2. Scaled back the after-hours Lyft program to provide $10 credits for rides after 10 pm
Monday-Saturday and after 8pm on Sunday.
3. Completed two transit pass audits to ensure compliance with PATMA rules
4. Received and activated 184 Caltrain GoPasses from the Caltrain GoPass Donation
Program to distribute to low wage service sector workers in 2023.
5. Received approval to continue distributing Caltrain GoPasses in 2024 to low wage
service sector workers to help rebuild Caltrain ridership.
PATMA 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 and Dumbarton Transbay buses. PATMA also offers credits for after-hours Lyft
rides of less than five miles. During 2023, PATMA received permission from the Palo Alto City
Council to expand outreach to businesses throughout Palo Alto, expanding beyond the
University Ave Downtown and California Ave commercial districts.
Service sector workers who receive transit passes work primarily in food service, retail, and
accommodation. Light office workers who receive transit passes or accrue Bike Love rewards
include staff at Palo Alto’s dentist, doctor, accounting, and law offices, and banks.
Programs with income thresholds
Train and bus passes
Transit pass benefits are provided to employees earning less than $70,000 per year who work in
Downtown and Cal Ave areas, as well as commercial areas along the major transit corridors of
El Camino Real and San Antonio Rd.
5
Pilot: Refurbished bicycles
In 2023, PATMA continued working with local non-profit Bike Exchange for a pilot program to
provide four refurbished bicycles and safety gear to essential workers. This pilot is open to
workers making less than $70,000/year. Figure 2 shows one Palo Alto-based essential worker
receiving her refurbished bicycle.
Figure 2: Essential worker Linda Lui taking delivery of her refurbished bicycle from Palo Alto-based non-
profit Bike Exchange
Programs without income thresholds
Lyft after-hours rides of less than five miles
In 2023, PATMA scaled back the Lyft program to provide rides for workers commuting less than
five miles late at night after transit stops running. This change is saving the program about
$1,000/month.
Pilot: Bike Love rewards
The Bike Love smartphone app provides daily incentives for active mode first-mile commute
trips to transit and active mode commutes between home and work, of $5/day up to $599 per
year per commuter. Automated travel mode detection identifies eligible bike, e-bike, e-scooter,
and e-skateboard trips. Eligibility is determined by trips that stop or start within geofences
6
around 30 Caltrain stations and two major Palo Alto job centers. Incentive dollars are instantly
redeemable at local merchants via reloadable Apple/Google Wallet Virtual Visa cards, a new
type of payment card.
Figure 3 shows the current geofences that mark commute destinations that earn workers
rewards.
Figure 3: Bike Love geofence boundaries
In 2023, 49% of transactions to redeem rewards happened in Palo Alto, in support of the City
Council’s 2023 priority for economic recovery. The ability of Bike Love users to redeem
incentives at Palo Alto businesses keeps dollars in the local economy. Figure 4 provides detail
about where Bike Love users are spending their reward funds.
Figure 4: Where Bike Love rewards are spent
All Palo
Alto
Other
cities
Amazon
or online
Menlo
Park
San
Francisco
Mountain
View Sunnyvale Redwood
City
San
Carlos
Transaction
value ($) 15,196 6,095 3,214 2,844 1,137 593 509 316 253 235
Number of
transactions 804 395 164 74 67 35 19 13 22 15
Source: Motion
7
Bike Love app programmers at Motion gather this information from specific merchant
identification numbers where rewards are redeemed.
For a quick overview video explaining the app, please visit Bike Love in 80 seconds (video).
Benefits of PATMA Programs
While PATMA programs save service workers money on their commutes, many other benefits
of these programs accrue to local businesses, workers, City government, and Palo Alto
residents.
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, restaurants
and hotels attract and retain workers in competitive industries with high rates of staff turnover.
Workers
Workers who stop driving not only save money on variable personal vehicle costs such as
gasoline, maintenance, and repairs, they also escape the stress of having to drive in traffic
congestion. The workers who commute by active modes enjoy the benefits of exercise that
allow them to arrive at work energized and refreshed.
City of Palo Alto
Municipal governments impact 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 in commercial areas, and enhance the quality of life for residents by reducing
the number of cars parked in neighborhoods.
Program Results
The results of the TMA’s program management, outreach, and program operation labor in
Figures 5-9 depict the number of 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 traveled, and greenhouse gases (in tons) reduced.
Figure 5: Number of commuters diverted from single-occupancy vehicles
Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023
Transit passes 145.0 183.6 216.6 251.6
Lyft 3.5 3.9 3.8 0.9
Total 148.5 187.5 220.4 252.5
8
Averaging the number of commuters diverted from single-occupancy vehicles over the four
quarters yields 202.2. Figure 6 includes transit passes purchased and GoPasses donated by
Caltrain.
Figure 6: Number of transit passes distributed by employer in December 2023
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Sheraton 29 Sephora 3
Blue Bottle
Coffee 1
Nola Restaurant &
Bar 1
Westin Hotel 19
Verve Coffee
Roasters 3 Buca di Beppo 1 Onigilly 1
Nobu Hotel 15 Watercourse Way 3 Cafe Venetia 1 Protege restaurant 1
Downtown Streets
Team 12 West Elm 3
City National
Bank 1 Reposado 1
Patagonia 12 Avenidas 2
Coconuts
Caribbean bar
and restaurant 1
Reservoir
Engineering
Research Institute 1
Apple 10
Bjelajac Dental
Practice 2 Connie Ho MD 1
Right at Home
Peninsula 1
Lima Ruby 10 Cafe 220 2 Curry Pizza 1 Scotty's restaurant 1
Crepevine 8 Cardinal Hotel 2
Downtown
Kindercare 1 Smiles By Pai 1
Whole Foods 8 Creamery 2
Dr. Stan
Exceptional
Dentistry 1 Somi Somi 1
Coupa Cafe 5 Palo Alto Inn 2 Ettan Restaurant 1
Summerwinds
Nursery 1
Lytton Gardens
(Front Porch) 4 Philz Coffee 2 Graduate Hotel 1 Sweetgreen 1
Palo Alto Bicycles 4 San Agus 2
Guckenheimer:
Palo Alto Club 1 The Cobblery 1
SkinSpirit 4
Sekoya Lounge &
Kitchen 2 HanaHaus 1 The Palo Alto Inn 1
Zareen's 4 Starbucks 2 Imagina Daycare 1 The Real Real 1
Bar Zola 3 Summit Bicycles 2
KinderCare
Learning
Companies 1 Trader Joes 1
Christine Hansen
DDS & Associates 3 Tacolicious 2
Kris Hamamoto
DDS, Inc. 1
US Bank (formerly
Union Bank ) 1
Front Porch
(Lytton Garden 3 Tamarine restaurant 2
La Bodeguita del
Medio restaurant 1
Walgreens
Community 1
9
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Organization Transit
passes
Senior
Apartments)
Pharmacy
Joya Restaurant 3 Vizavoo Salon 2
Macs Smoke
Shop 1 ZombieRunner 1
Local Union 271 3 Webster House 2
Mademoiselle
Colette 1
Mollie Stones 3 Yayoi 2 Meyhause 1
Oren's Hummus
Shop 3 Arya Steakhouse 1
Naschmarkt
restaurant 1
Rangoon Ruby 3 Block Advisors 1 Nidhi Pai, DMD 1
Figure 7: Cost per SOV avoided per year
Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023
Transit pass subsidy – pass outlay $589 $490 $448 $507
Lyft program $2,603 $2,771 $1,602 $2,681
Figure 8: Avoided vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023
Transit pass subsidy 224,024 282,465 333,216 387,043
Lyft 1,241 1,281 1,114 260
Total VMT reduced 225,264 283,745 334,330 387,304
Totaled for the 2023 calendar year, PATMA programs reduced vehicle miles traveled by
1,230,643.
Figure 9: Greenhouse gases reduced (tons)
Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023
Transit passes and Lyft 93 117 137 159
In CY 2023, PATMA reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 506 tons.
10
Testimonials
The following feedback from employees of local businesses shows how much PATMA’s
programs mean to the community.
● “I use the TMA Caltrain pass and it has been amazing. Plus I get my steps in. I tell
everyone I know how great this program is!” - Norma M.
● “I like taking Caltrain because it goes closer to where I need to go compared to the bus.”
- Lynn F.
● “I love taking Caltrain!” - Shelby S.
Budget
The non-profit demonstrated program results which helped to grow its City funding allocation
until 2020 when the pandemic altered commuting habits and parking fund revenues fell
dramatically. Figure 10 shows the history of PATMA’s funding allocations since FY 2016.
Figure 10: PATMA funding since inception
Since 2020, PATMA has worked hard to do more with less and build back the number of
workers it supports with mode shift. Figure 11 shows income sources and expenditures in CY
2023.
11
Figure 11: Detailed 2023 income and expenses
Management tasks 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.
Program operation labor involves processing new transit pass requests, communicating about
pass renewals, purchasing new passes, replacing lost passes, distributing new passes,
troubleshooting, and monitoring accounts.
In 2023, City Council recommended PATMA use up to $25,000 of its budget to expand outreach
efforts beyond University Ave Downtown and California Ave. PATMA conducted outreach along
El Camino Real and San Antonio Rd visiting dozens of businesses. As a result, six passes were
processed and distributed to a hotel, dentist and plant nursery. Building on this effort,
additional outreach efforts later in FY 2023-2024 yielded more passes distributed at
restaurants, a café, a daycare center, and a spa.
Figures 12 and 13 provide pie charts that show details of income and expenses.
12
Figure 12: Overview of 2023 income1
Figure 13: Overview of 2023 expenses
1 Separate account refers to leftover funds from a pilot program early in PATMA’s history.
13
Conclusion
When PATMA staff drop off new transit passes for essential workers, staff regularly hear
expressions of gratitude about how the transit passes improve workers’ quality of life, allow
them to stay focused at work, and reduce their family’s transportation costs. Helping people is
part of what makes mode shift work gratifying for the non-profit’s staff, but there is more to be
done with the on-going guidance of the board of directors and the City of Palo Alto’s vital
support.
PATMA’s staff and board will continue to look for ways to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce
demand for parking, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting and engaging local
businesses, their workers, the City of Palo Alto, and residents. In 2024, an expansion of the
refurbished bike pilot, growing the number of active Bike Love users, conducting outreach at
the Stanford Mall and Channing House, and distributing Caltrain’s substantial allocation of
GoPasses for 2024 are the main ways PATMA will build on its successful programs and deepen
its impact next year.
Three Year Strategic Plan
July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027
Submitted to the Palo Alto City Council
Prepared by:
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
855 El Camino Real #13A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
www.paloaltotma.org
March 2024
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
PATMA Programs .................................................................................................................................... 3
Value of Palo Alto TMA ............................................................................................................................ 4
Three Year Strategic Planning .................................................................................................................. 6
Workplan ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Three Budget Scenarios ......................................................................................................................... 10
Budget History and Projections.............................................................................................................. 12
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 14
1
PATMA’s Three Year Strategic Plan
July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027
Executive Summary
The Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) supports local businesses with
transportation demand management programs that help companies attract and retain workers:
free transit passes, rewards for active mobility commutes, and after-hours Lyft rides less than
five miles. For the past four years, PATMA has been rebuilding from a pandemic-induced 90%
drop in transit pass requests in early 2020.
In December 2023, PATMA’s programs resulted in a reduction of demand for 266 parking
spaces which yields benefits every day, all year. Building on this success, our strategic plan
details the following goals for the next three years.
• Year 1: Outreach at the Stanford Mall, Channing House, and along El Camino Real to
increase distribution of transit passes to low wage service sector workers currently
driving to work; and expansion of active mobility programs and outreach to encourage
workers who commute less than 10 miles
• Year 2: Expand active mobility programs and outreach; expand incentives for workers
willing to leave their car at home; educate about expanded mobility options to reassure
workers that they can get where they need to go without using a personal vehicle
• Year 3: Support the evolution of disjointed transportation options (personal vehicles,
ride hailing, vehicle rental, trains, buses, and active mobility) into a low-carbon,
seamless, integrated system in order that workers can travel to where they need to go
without owning a personal vehicle
The recent change in City policy allowing the TMA to help workers switch to sustainable
transportation modes at Stanford Mall and along El Camino Real, as well as discovery of
opportunities at Channing House, provides a roadmap for dramatic growth in essential workers
served in the next year. To support more workers to switch from single occupancy vehicles to
train, bus or active mobility, PATMA requests City funding of $400,000 for Fiscal Year 2025.
Introduction
The Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) is leading efforts to reshape
commute behaviors in town. Abundant mass transit, active mobility (bicycle, electric scooter,
walking), on-demand car sharing options as well as trip planning apps mean some workers who
live and work near major transit pipelines like Caltrain, VTA 22/522, SamTrans ECR, and the
Dumbarton Express can commute quickly and efficiently without needing to own a personal
2
vehicle. In this spirit, PATMA provides information and incentives that encourage workers to
shift out of their single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs) and into low-carbon transportation options.
Building on the foundation of our mission and core
values, listed in Figure 1, each year PATMA overlays
the City Council’s strategic priorities to focus our non-
profit’s efforts. In January 2024, the Palo Alto City
Council set their strategic priorities for the year as:
1. Climate Change & Natural Environment –
Protection & Adaptation
2. Community Health, Safety, Wellness &
Belonging
3. Economic Development & Transition
4. Housing for Social & Economic Balance
PATMA’s programs help address three of these four
priorities: economic recovery, climate change, and
community health by providing essential workers –
mostly in food service, retail, and accommodation –
with commute counseling, access to free transit
passes, rewards for bicycling to work, and late night
ride-sharing services.
Figure 2 shows that PATMA successfully rebuilt the number of workers served after a
precipitous drop in
transit pass demand in
early 2020. With
expanded outreach,
development of new
programs, and
diversified funding
sources, PATMA was
able to reduce the cost
per SOV diverted,
greenhouse gases
(GHGs) emissions, and
vehicle miles traveled
(VMT).
Figure 1: PATMA’s mission and core
values
Mission
Better commutes for everyone
Core values
• Traffic – lighten traffic congestion
• Parking – reduce demand for
parking in commercial areas
• Climate change – transition to a
zero-emission transportation
system
• Equity – fair outcomes, treatment
and opportunities for all
• Local businesses – help local
businesses attract and retain
employees
• Health – encourage community
health
Figure 2: Passes activated for PATMA clients
3
PATMA Programs
Programs with income thresholds
Transit Passes
Currently, PATMA focuses on supporting essential workers in the Downtown and California Ave
commercial districts. If these workers are driving to work, they can receive free Caltrain, VTA,
SamTrans, or Dumbarton Transbay bus passes.
Refurbished Bicycles
In 2022, PATMA piloted a refurbished bicycle program with the local non-profit Bike Exchange.
This refurbished bicycle program is for essential workers in Palo Alto making less than
$70,000/year who would like to bike to work but do not own a bicycle. If they also need any
safety equipment – helmet, lock, lights – Bike Exchange will include these for each essential
worker receiving a refurbished bike.
Programs without income thresholds
After hours Lyft rides
Workers who live less than five miles from work and who need to travel home from work late
at night when mass transit is not running can receive a $10 Lyft credit per ride. There is no
income limit for this program.
Bike Love
In 2022, PATMA launched the Bike Love app
which provides $5/day up to $600/year to
workers Downtown and on Cal Ave to
encourage commuters to leave their cars at
home and bike or e-scooter to work. Unlike the
transit pass program, there are no income
restrictions for the Bike Love program. The app
was designed to provide attractive financial
rewards to all workers in Downtown and on Cal
Ave in order to build active mobility habits. See
Figure 3 for a map of Bike Love program
boundaries within which workers earn rewards.
The Bike Love app also rewards travel to all 30
Caltrain stations for commuters who would be
incentivized to bike or scooter to Caltrain and
take the train to work.
Bike Love’s commuter location tracking confirms bike, e-bike, e-scooter, and e-skateboard trips.
Within a few minutes of arrival, incentive dollars may be redeemed by the commuter at local
Figure 3: Geofenced areas for Bike Love rewards
4
merchants via Apple/Google Wallet electronic debit cards. When some of the more than 100
on-boarded Bike Love app users redeem rewards at Palo Alto businesses, app programmers at
Motion collect merchant identification numbers which allow them to track where reward
dollars are spent. About half of reward dollars are redeemed at Palo Alto-based businesses
which is another way that PATMA supports local businesses and multiplies program impact to
benefit the local economy.
Single-occupancy vehicles diverted
In December 2023, PATMA reduced demand for 266 parking spaces by helping service workers
in Palo Alto access train and bus passes, providing late night Lyft rides, and Bike Love rewards.
Details about PATMA’s December 2023 metrics include 257 active transit passes, as well as Lyft
rides and bicycle trips.
Train and bus passes activated (December 2023)
• 169 GoPasses (without bus passes)
• 11 GoPasses with VTA pass
• 4 GoPasses with SamTrans pass
• 31 VTA passes
• 33 SamTrans passes
• 6 Dumbarton Express passes
• 3 Caltrain passes
Lyft (December 2023):
• 3 active riders
• 34 rides taken (one-way trips)
• 105.9 miles covered
• 338.23 transaction amount
Bike Love (December 2023):
• 6 people bicycling to work (three or more times/week)1
• 518 miles logged
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2022, PATMA programs avoided 1,230,643
vehicle miles traveled, and reduced greenhouse gases by 506 tons by providing free transit
passes and after-hour Lyft rides.
Value of Palo Alto TMA
Competitive Advantage for Local Businesses
Local businesses in the Downtown and Cal Ave areas contribute to the wonderful quality of life
in Palo Alto. In turn, PATMA’s transit pass programs and active mobility programs support local
businesses by giving them a competitive advantage to attract and retain staff. As the primary
1 In third quarter 2023, 11 people on average bicycled logged trips to work.
5
funder of PATMA’s cost-effective programs, the City demonstrates its leadership on equity and
climate change issues by supporting PATMA.
Supporting Palo Alto’s Sustainability/Climate Action Plan Work
In 2016, the City of Palo Alto set an ambitious overall GHG emissions reduction goal: 80% below
1990 levels by 2030. As of 2021, the City has reduced emissions to 53.9% below the 1990 level,
despite a population increase of 19.5 percent during that same time period. Of that 53.9
percent reduction to date, 44.2 percent came from achieving carbon neutrality for the City’s
electricity portfolio, 28.6 percent from declines in transportation emissions, 13.9 percent from
reduction in natural gas (methane) consumption, 11.5 percent from declines in solid waste
emissions, and 1.7 percent from declines in wastewater-related emissions. To reduce emissions
further, one of Palo Alto’s Sustainability/Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) goals is to increase the
mode share for active transportation modes (walking, biking, and transit) from 19% to 40% of
local work trips by 2030.
According to Palo Alto’s 2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, 51.7% of Palo Alto’s GHG
emissions come from on-road transportation sources, as seen in Figure 4.
Figure 4: 2021 greenhouse gas emissions in Palo Alto by sector
Source: June 5, 2023 Report to Palo Alto City Council, Approval of 2023-2025 S/CAP Workplan
6
When looking at total emissions by source, commuters contribute the second highest amount of
greenhouse gases after visitors. See Figure 5.
Figure 5: 2020 greenhouse gas emissions by source
Source: June 5, 2023 Report to Palo Alto City Council, Approval of 2023-2025 S/CAP Workplan
PATMA is positioned to play a key role in facilitating GHG emission reductions by raising
awareness about the benefits of mode shift, offering information about sustainable commute
options through commute counseling, and providing incentives for mode shift.
Three-Year Strategic Planning
At meetings in November 2023 through February 2024, PATMA’s Board of Directors conducted
strategic planning for the next three years. Input gathered informs PATMA’s path forward with
goals, strategies, and objectives for 2024-2027.
Year 1 (FY 2024-25)
Goals
• Mode shift single occupancy vehicle (SOV) drivers to mass transit or active mobility
• Reduce demand for parking spaces – every day, all year
7
• Help rebuild mass transit ridership
• Increase the number of people commuting by active mobility (bicycle, e-scooter,
walking)
• Increase PATMA program administration efficiency
• Support local businesses to attract and retain workers
• Support City of Palo Alto Sustainability/Climate Action Plan goals to reduce greenhouse
gases
Strategies
• Expand marketing collateral for transit passes and active mobility
o Full-page flyer with all PATMA programs and other mode shift programs that
serve Palo Alto (free train and bus passes, Bike Love rewards, refurbished bikes,
Palo Alto Link, Guaranteed Ride Home, list of car share and car rental options)
o ARC GIS map of transit pipelines and bike routes to Palo Alto from nearby cities
o Articles and opinion pieces in local newspapers
o Window clings (non-adhesive decal) for businesses that receive PATMA
incentives
o T-shirts with PATMA’s new, shorter mission statement
• Market PATMA programs at the Stanford Mall, Channing House, along El Camino Real,
and to businesses that currently do not receive PATMA incentives
• Pilot programs that encourage active mobility – bike safety classes, route planning, e-
bike lending program
• Train managers at businesses with the largest number of transit passes about Clipper
Card best practices
• Encourage transit pass users to load Clipper Card onto their phone with the
Clippercard.com app
• Deepen relationships with non-profit organizations that have similar missions and goals
(Friends of Caltrain, Seamless Bay Area, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition)
• Study hypothesis that having a transit pass connected with a service sector job results in
higher employee retention
Objectives
• # parking spaces not needed
• # train and bus passes provided to Palo Alto workers making less than $70,000/year
• # people taking active mobility to work
• # businesses with PATMA membership
• Reduce cost/SOV diverted
• Grow the number of Bike Love app users biking to work at least 3x/week
8
Year 2 (FY 2025-26)
Goals
• Help expand clean transportation options available to people who work in Palo Alto so
they do not need to own a personal vehicle
• Support safety of commuters using active mobility
• Support City of Palo Alto goals to reduce greenhouse gases from on-road transportation
and increase number of commuters using active mobility
• Reduce demand for parking spaces – every day, all year
• Support local businesses to attract and retain workers
• Diversify funding sources
• Provide TDM services Citywide
• Expand awareness of PATMA among people who work in Palo Alto
Strategies
• Expand PATMA’s toolkit of information and incentives to encourage mode shift
• Expand pilot active mobility education programs that were effective in 2024-25 to shift
cyclists up a level (to the right in Figure 6)
Figure 6: Four types of cyclists (Portland, OR study)
Source: Roger Geller, City of Portland
• Develop case studies of workers using active mobility programs that benefited from not
driving to work
9
Objectives
• # parking spaces not needed
• # people taking active mobility to work
• # of people trained in defensive cycling techniques
• # businesses with PATMA membership
Year 3 (FY 2026-27)
Goals
• Support the evolution of our region’s disjointed transportation options (personal
vehicles, ride hailing, vehicle rental, mass transit, and active mobility) into a low-carbon,
seamless, integrated system
• Determine what is missing to help workers get where they need to go without owning a
personal vehicle
Strategies
• Expand PATMA’s toolkit of information and incentives to encourage mode shift
• Test new technology mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) planning and payment options as they
become available
Objectives
• # parking spaces not needed
• # train and bus passes provided to Palo Alto workers making less than $70,000/year
• # people taking active mobility to work
• # businesses with PATMA membership
Workplan
Year 1
In the next year, PATMA plans to aggressively expand the number of SOVs diverted given recent
discoveries of large numbers of retail and service sector employees in our service territory at
the Stanford Mall and Channing House. These areas are well-served by transit and offer a
significant opportunity to reduce congestion and realize mode shift.
The following seven tasks are planned for FY 2025:
1. Create a marketing plan
2. Promote train and bus passes, the Bike Love app, and refurbished bicycle program
3. Provide commute counseling and route planning
4. Distribute train and bus passes and streamline program administration
5. Expand the number of active Bike Love app users
10
6. Pilot an e-bike lending program for 5 low wage service sector workers who live 3-10
miles from work
7. Conduct the 2024 commute survey
The timeframe for each task is shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7: Year 1 workplan
7/
24
8/
24
9/
24
10/
24
11/
24
12/
24
1/
25
2/
25
3/
25
4/
25
5/
25
6/
25
Task 1 – Marketing plan
Task 2 – Program promotion
Task 3 – Commute counseling
Task 4 – Administer transit passes
Task 5 – Expand # of Bike Love users
Task 6 – E-bike lending pilot
Task 7 – Commute survey
With the roll out of Caltrain’s electrification project in fall 2024, we expect additional riders will
be attracted to mass transit.
Year 2
In FY 2026, PATMA will continue to monitor developments for Mobility as a Service apps that
help riders more efficiently plan, pay for, and transfer between multiple commute modes, as
well as the Seamless Bay Area project, and support development of the City’s Bicycle and
Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update.
Year 3
In FY 2027, 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
expand active mobility programs for commuters who live less than 10 miles from work.
Three Budget Scenarios
PATMA offers three budget scenarios for FY 2025, as seen in Figure 8. A small budget would represent a
lower level of service than currently provided which would result in lower numbers of SOVs removed
from area roads. The medium budget would allow PATMA to take at least an additional 100 cars off the
road and the larger budget would allow us to deepen relationships with managers in business sectors
with essential workers to remind them about our programs that help them attract and retain
employees. The larger budget would provide more transit passes and more incentives to encourage SOV
drivers who are on the fence about mode shift to switch over.
11
Figure 8: Small, medium and larger budget options for FY 2025
Small budget
($200,000)
Medium budget ($400,000) Larger budget
($600,000)
• Two quarter-time
staff
• Promotion of free
train and bus
passes for low
wage service sector
workers
• Customer service
for pass
administration
• Annual commute
survey
• Quarterly reports
• Annual report
• Three-year
strategic plan
• Quarterly board
meetings
• Two half-time staff
• Expanded promotion of free train and bus passes
for low wage service sectors workers – Stanford
Mall, Channing House, South El Camino Real,
University Ave., and California Ave.
• Bike Love app providing $5/day rewards
• Adult bike safety classes – online basics and in-
person practice
• Annual commute survey
• Quarterly reports
• Annual report
• Three-year strategic plan
• Monthly board meetings (quick, efficient one
hour meetings where 8 board members give
feedback and support on emerging issues)
• RideAmigos – pilot ride management platform for
commute rewards
• Electric bike pilot program for 5 low wage service
sector workers commuting from Redwood City,
Menlo Park, East Palo Alto and Mountain View
• Develop e-bike case studies to show the benefits
of active commute to help convince others to
mode shift
• Route planning - help people considering a bike
commute to plan a safe route to work
• 8 refurbished bikes for low wage service sector
workers
• Publicity to raise awareness about PATMA’s work
- articles and opinion pieces in local papers
Same as Medium
budget plus
additional SOVs
removed from traffic
due to:
• Citywide service
• Higher level of
effort for
marketing – labor,
collateral
• More train and
bus passes
distributed at
current and
additional
businesses
• Offer Bike Love to
more
organizations
• Expanded program
of RideAmigos
incentives
• 266 parking spaces
freed falling to 200
with transit pass
attrition
• 366 parking spaces freed • 569 parking spaces
freed
The medium budget is a bit above the budget spending PATMA has been running and would allow us to
invest funding into programs and approaches that have proven to work, as well as try a new pilot to
encourage more active mobility. A larger budget would allow us to provide services Citywide and
provide more mode shift incentives.
12
Budget History and Projections
Budget History
Looking back at funding levels since the start of the Palo Alto TMA, the program grew over
several years and demonstrated cost-effective successes with SOV diversion, GHG reductions,
and VMT reductions until the pandemic hit. Figure 9 shows historic budget trends.
Figure 9: PATMA funding since inception
Budget for FY 2024
As we seek to grow program participation further, PATMA’s funding request for FY 2024 is
$400,000.
Reasons that factor into this funding level request include:
• PATMA has identified three areas in town with large numbers of low wage service
sector workers and constrained parking options that could help shift large numbers of
people to mass transit and active commutes (Stanford Mall, Channing House, and south
El Camino Real)
• PATMA already has strong relationships with local business managers and articulates
clear value propositions for workers and managers. Building on this, the main additional
cost of removing demand for parking spaces around town involves the cost of bus
passes and Bike Love rewards.
With cost of living adjustments from the FY 2024 budget, the continued availability of free
GoPasses from Caltrain, and income of $400,000 from the City of Palo Alto, PATMA projects the
following budget for FY 2024 in Figure 10.
13
Figure 10: FY 2025 Budget Projection
As circumstances change, PATMA has the ability to adjust our income and expenses through
various financial levers.
● Reducing labor costs
● Reducing program expenses
● 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
● Identifying the feasibility of short-term loans
PATMA will continue to operate in a lean manner and make effective use of our budget to
maximize impact.
Budget Scenarios for 2023-2024
While PATMA’s FY 2024 budget request is for $400,000, with a higher level of funding, PATMA
could serve more people with transit passes, Lyft late night rides home, and bicycle programs.
Consider Figure 11 which provides the return on investment for various levels of funding that
will result in a reduction of demand for 266, 366, or 569 parking spaces.
Figure 11: Return on investment for various levels of funding
14
Conclusion
In support of the local economy, over the next three years PATMA will look for opportunities to continue
delivering cost-effective programs for service sector and light office workers that reduce traffic
congestion and demand for parking in Palo Alto. PATMA will leverage complementary programs by
other agencies such as Caltrain’s GoPass Donation Program, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition’s bike safety
training, and VTA’s Guaranteed Ride Home program that enable mode shift to low-carbon commute
modes.
Many public and private organizations are working hard to facilitate a future seamless, integrated low-
carbon transportation system in the Bay Area that will lower personal transportation costs and reduce
GHG emissions. PATMA will continue to monitor developments in these areas in support of local
businesses and their employees.
2023 COMMUTE SURVEY REPORT
for
and
PATMA Board Members
Cedric de la Beaujardiere, resident (Chair)
Rob George, Philz Coffee (Treasurer)
Shannon McEntee, resident (Secretary)
Philip Kamhi, City of Palo Alto
Brad Ehikian, Premiere Properties
Sebastian Mafla, Sheraton
Alejandra Mier, Coupa Cafe
Nathan Duncan, Patagonia
December 2023
Prepared by:
Justine Burt
Sana Ahmed
ALTRANS TMA Inc
302 Toyon Ave, Suite F -MS 410
San Jose, CA 95127
www.altrans.net
Table of Contents
Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2
Survey Population ................................................................................................................................ 3
Survey Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 4
Results ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Key Insights ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 16
1
Executive Summary
In September and October 2023, the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
(PATMA) team surveyed workers at organizations in the University Avenue Downtown
(Downtown) and California Avenue (Cal Ave) areas to learn about their commute habits and
preferences. The team conducted online and in-person surveys in English and Spanish through
door-to-door canvassing, mass texting, and email follow-up. This document provides the
highlights of the survey findings.
The two main objectives of the commute survey were to 1) determine which workers in
Downtown and Cal Ave were open to shifting their commute from single occupancy vehicles to
mass transit or active mobility options and 2) raise awareness of PATMA programs.
Based on the 738 completed surveys, Figure 1 shows the percentage of respondents from the
four main sectors in Downtown and on Cal Ave: service, government, technology, and light
office.
Figure 1: Survey Respondents by Sector
Figure 2 below shows the primary mode workers use to commute each week. A little more than
half of the workers who participated in the survey shared that their primary commute mode is
a single occupancy vehicle.
2
Figure 2: Primary Commute Mode of Survey Respondents
Also notably, answers to the survey question “Are there any issues or concerns you would like
to share about your commute?” yielded a treasure trove of feedback, insights, and
compliments with one respondent sharing that:
“I use the TMA Caltrain pass and it has been amazing. Plus I get my steps in. I tell
everyone I know how great this program is!”
Most importantly, data collected in the 2023 commute survey illuminates opportunities to
reach more workers and expand PATMA program offerings that will help realize the City of Palo
Alto’s goals to reduce traffic congestion, reduce demand for parking, support economic
recovery, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and address social equity issues.
Introduction
In 2023, the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) conducted their
eighth annual employee commute survey as required by the funding agreement between
PATMA and the City of Palo Alto (COPA). PATMA contracted with ALTRANS TMA Inc. to conduct
the survey in-house and performed outreach in September and October 2023.
The survey was designed to identify how Palo Alto employees working in the University Avenue
Downtown (Downtown) and California Avenue (Cal Ave) areas commute to work, identify
individuals currently driving alone who are open to shifting to a sustainable commute mode,
and raise awareness of PATMA’s program offerings.
56
%
24
%
7%7%
3%
1%1%
DRIVE ALONE TRANSIT CARPOOL BIKE WALK TELECOMMUTE OTHER
PRIMARY COMMUTE MODE
3
Survey Population
The total worker population for the Downtown and Cal Ave areas, according to the U.S. Census
OntheMap data tool, shows 34,824 workers in three census tracts in Downtown and 5,302
workers in the census tract for the Cal Ave area. Four census tracts referenced are shown in
Figure 3.
Figure 3: Census Tracts for Downtown and California Ave Workers
Census Tract 5116.09
(includes El Camino Real hotels and Sand Hill Rd)
Census Tract 5113.02
(includes Downtown University Ave)
Census Tract 5115.01
(includes California Ave and across El Camino Real)
Census Tract 5113.01 (includes
Downtown area south of University)
For these four census tract numbers, the 2021 data set1 for the U.S. Census OnTheMap tool
was extracted to determine the number of workers for each North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) category. Figure 4 shows NAICS codes for which there is worker
data as well as the corresponding PATMA sector classification category -- service, government,
technology and light office.
1 2021 data is the most recent available from the U.S. Census OnTheMap database
4
Figure 4: NAICS Codes and PATMA Classification
NAICS Code NAICS Sector Name PATMA
Classification
11
21
22
23
31-33
42
44-45
48-49
51
52
53
54
55
56
61
62
71
72
81
92
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Utilities
Construction
Manufacturing
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Transportation and Warehousing
Information
Finance and Insurance
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Administrative and Support and Waste Management
and Remediation Services
Educational Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Accommodation and Food Services
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Public Administration
Service
Service
Government
Service
Service
Service
Service
Service
Technology
Light Office
Light Office
Technology
Light Office
Light Office
Light Office
Service
Light Office
Service
Service
Government
Source: NAICS Association
The number of workers listed in each census tract were placed into four different employment
classifications in Figure 5, which shows the total population of workers for this survey.
Figure 5: Number of Workers in Two Commercial Areas
Source: U.S. Census OnTheMap, 2021 data
Area
PATMA Business
Category Count % Share
Service 15,623 45%
Technology 14,806 43%
Light Office 3,482 10%
Government 913 3%
Total Downtown 34,824
Service 1992 38%
Technology 1592 30%
Light Office 1,718 32%
Government 0 0%
Total Cal Ave 5,302
Total Population 40,126
Downtown
California Ave
5
From among this total population in these two commercial areas, as of the end of October, the
commute survey team had received 831 surveys from workers. After cleaning the survey data
of duplicate responses and incomplete surveys, there were a total of 738 complete surveys of
which 324 respondents were service sector workers, 199 were government staff, 71 were light
office workers, and 144 were tech workers. This year’s response rate was higher than the two
previous years the survey was conducted. The response rate for each of the eight survey years
is shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Number of PATMA Commute Survey Responses by Year
Year Number of
Respondents
2023 738
2022 511
2021 551
2019 1,471
2018 496
2017 892
2016 829
2015 1,173
In 2023, the use of electronic tablets, stronger working relationships with managers, and gentle
nudges to organizations that had not yet completed any surveys, as well as a return to office
(RTO) in the tech sector helped boost response numbers over the previous year.
Survey Methodology
In fall 2023, the PATMA team reached out to businesses and organizations to administer the
survey. Questions asked about the primary travel mode workers used to commute, their city of
residence, employer, income level, openness to sustainable commute options, and interest in
commute counseling.
The survey was mainly administered through tablets using the SurveyMonkey platform. The
electronic survey version employed skip logic and survey branching to optimize question
relevance to different respondents. Paper copies of the surveys in English and Spanish were
distributed to managers at downtown hotels who collected responses from their staff. Block-
by-block, door-to-door canvassing resulted in a dataset representing businesses and
organizations in the Downtown and Cal Ave areas. Door-to-door outreach was bolstered by
mass texting and email follow-up to business contacts.
The PATMA team was able to secure 738 responses to the survey out of a Downtown and Cal
Ave worker population of 40,126 people. At a 95% confidence interval, and with a sample size
at 1.84% of the population, the margin of error for this data is +/- 0.96%.
6
Results
Data collected in this survey shed light on several topics:
• how people commute to work
• where they are coming from
• which workers could get to work taking just one transit option running into Downtown
or Cal Ave
• which workers are open to a different commute mode, and
• what information, equipment, or incentives could encourage them to make the shift
from driving alone.
The following figures show the results for each question.
Q1. In which city and zip code do you live?
Among survey respondents this year, the top 20 home cities are shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7: Top 20 Cities of Survey Respondents
Figure 8 maps the zip codes of survey respondents.
7
Figure 8: Number of Respondents by Zip Code
Q2. What is the name of your employer? (This information will help us analyze commuting
patterns for the four main types of employers [service, technology, light office, and government]
in Palo Alto.)
Employer names were organized into four main sectors of employers in Palo Alto, as seen in
Figure 9.
8
Figure 9: Survey Respondents by Sector
Note that the number of survey respondents from the technology sector is higher this year than
last. On May 1, 2023, Amazon offices in Downtown required employees to return to office.
Q3. How do you usually travel to work? If you use more than one type of transportation, choose
the one used for the longest distance of your trip.
Many commuters use more than one type of transportation for commuting. To be able to
compare this year’s data with previous years’ data, we asked people about the main commute
mode they use for the longest segment of their trip. Figure 10 provides information about the
primary commute mode.
9
Figure 10: Primary Commute Mode
Figure 11 divides this data by sector for 2023 to allow comparisons between government, light
office, service, and tech sectors.
Figure 11: Commute Mode by Sector
56
%
24
%
7%7%
3%
1%1%
DRIVE ALONE TRANSIT CARPOOL BIKE WALK TELECOMMUTE OTHER
PRIMARY COMMUTE MODE
10
A comparison of commute modes over the past several years is shown in Figures 12 and 13.
Figure 12: Changes in Commute Mode, 2015-2018
Starting in 2019 when PATMA brought the commute survey in-house, data was collected for biking
and walking separately.
Figure 13: Changes in Commute Mode, 2019-2023
57
%
18
%
5%
15
%
5%
56
%
18
%
6%
15
%
5%
53
%
20
%
8%
12
%
7%
49
%
27
%
9%9%
6%
DRIVE ALONE TRANSIT CARPOOL BIKE/WALK TELECOMMUTE
CHANGES IN COMMUTE MODE
2015-2018
2015 2016 2017 2018
52
%
25
%
5%5%4%
8%
60
%
9%
2%2%5%
23
%
55
%
26
%
5%7%
5%
2%
56
%
24
%
7%7%
3%
1%
DRIVE ALONE TRANSIT CARPOOL BIKE WALK TELECOMMUTE
CHANGES IN COMMUTE MODE
2019-2023
2019 2021 2022 2023
11
Q4. If you drive alone to work, what are your main reasons for doing so? (select up to 3)
• Live too far from work (177)
• Prefer to drive my own car (118)
• Might need to get home quickly for an emergency (96)
• Work too early or too late to take mass transit (91)
• Need to pick up or drop off children before or after work (70)
• Need my car during work (47)
• Feel alternatives like bicycling are unsafe (37)
Many people find driving their own vehicles more convenient and faster, depending on where
they live, or if they have outside obligations before or after work. Yet, many people who drive
are open to alternatives.
Q5. If you drive alone to work, which of the following sustainable commute modes are you open
to taking?
Among workers who identify as single occupancy vehicle drivers, Figure 13 shows that nearly
three-quarters are open to a sustainable commute mode of carpooling, vanpooling, mass
transit, bicycling, or walking.
Figure 13: Single Occupancy Vehicle Drivers Open to a Sustainable Commute
12
Q6. If you drive alone to work, is your home located less than one mile from a Caltrain station,
VTA 22/522 bus stop, SamTrans ECR bus stop, or Dumbarton Express bus stop?
Survey respondents who drive to work but who live a walkable distance from a major mass
transit option into Downtown Palo Alto may find it easier to take transit than those who do not.
Figure 14 depicts respondents who live near transit.
Figure 14: Single Occupancy Vehicle Drivers Who Live Less than 1 Mile from Transit
Among those who drive alone to work, 122 report that they live less than one mile from a
transit option that runs to Palo Alto, which is 16.5% of survey respondents.
Q7. If you live less than 5 miles from work, are you open to switching to an active mobility mode
(bicycle, electric bicycle, scooter, or electric scooter) for commuting?
Bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, and electric scooters offer active commutes for workers
who live in nearby cities. The following number of people may be open to an active commute.
13
Figure 15: Workers Who Live Nearby and Are Open to an Active Commute
Among the 738 survey respondents, 59 people or 8% live less than five miles from work and
are open to an active commute.
Q8. What is your annual salary?
The threshold for participation in PATMA’s free transit pass program is $70,000. Figure 16
shows that more than half of respondents make less than $70,000.
Figure 16: Respondents’ Annual Salary
14
Q9. PATMA staff is available to share information about sustainable commute options that
may benefit you. Would you like information about trains, buses, shared Lyft rides, Palo Alto
Link, or bicycling incentives?
In the survey, 305 respondents, or 42%, answered “yes.”
Q10. Are there any issues or concerns you would like to share about your commute?
Question 10 gave respondents an opportunity to share insights and feedback related to their
commute.
Major themes in the hundreds of responses include:
• Traffic seems as bad as it was pre-pandemic.
• With the Return to Office, some workers are commuting to the office a few days/week
even though they feel they can effectively do their work from home.
• For people driving to work, the cost of gas and bridge tolls as well as parking issues are
challenging.
• Many workers have concerns about the reliability and timeliness of trains and buses.
• Some workers shared concerns about wait times between trains and buses from
different mass transit agencies.
• Some requested more weekend and early morning bus service.
• Some workers requested faster and more direct sustainable transportation options
from the East Bay (Fremont and Hayward), North San Jose, and south of the San Jose
Diridon Caltrain station including from Los Banos.
• Several people expressed a wish that they could afford to live closer to Palo Alto in order
to take sustainable commute options to work.
• Respondents who are ineligible for free transit passes expressed concern about the
expense of transit.
• A few people mentioned concerns about personal safety at the Downtown transit
center and concern about bike theft on the train.
Among respondents who are happy with the free transit pass program, their comments
included:
• I use the TMA Caltrain pass and it has been amazing. Plus I get my steps in. I tell
everyone I know how great this program is!
• I use the bus in the morning to get to the train. I walk to the bus from my home. I like
riding the bus and train because of the interesting people I meet. One time I left my
wallet on the train and they called me to let me know they had my wallet. Good
people.
• No issues. I really enjoy that we have the opportunity to receive free bus passes. It
really helps out a lot.
• I like taking Caltrain because it goes closer to where I need to go compared to the bus.
• I love taking Caltrain!
15
• So thankful for the Caltrain pass.
Through the commute survey a dozen respondents requested better bicycling infrastructure:
• More bike lanes :)
• I wish we had wider bike paths on all our main roads.
• No bike lane on Alma overpass of University. No bike lanes on Alma south of
University. Poor bike path signage on Embarcadero Bike Path from Caltrain south
platform to across University to El Walk Fields path or Palm Drive/Stanford University
path.
• Cycling can be quite dangerous at times. Lytton Ave has a bike lane but only for part of
the journey. Crossing Middlefield can be a little dangerous.
• Bikes being ridden on the sidewalks is a problem, and driverless cars are unnerving.
• Middlefield Road, south of Willow Rd, has no dedicated bicycle lane. Can the lane
markings be moved so there is a dedicated bicycle lane, at least from University Ave,
north to Willow?
• Southgate Neighborhood streets (including the bike boulevard) are too narrow for a
car and a bike to pass head-on when cars are parked on both sides. This is a hazard for
emergency vehicles too. I recommend red curb (no parking) be added on one side of
these Southgate neighborhood streets.
• I live and work very close to the freeway so driving is a far easier option for me than
using transit. I'd love to bike to work someday when my kids are older and more
independent.
• Bike safety. Palo Alto is nice and safe for bikers, but riding through other cities (e.g.
Redwood City) is not great due to road conditions and traffic.
• Bike lanes are not well maintained.
• Bicycles do not follow the rules of the road. They do not stop at stop signs.
• At work we need bike parking and charging outlet for e-bikes, and bike equipment
lockers.
Key Insights
• The changes in commute mode between 2022 and 2023 were not as dramatic as the
changes from 2021 to 2022.
• With a return to office (RTO) in 2023, there are fewer people telecommuting full-time
and more people coming into the office for at least part of the week.
• The pandemic altered traffic volume and patterns but now traffic congestion is
perceived to have increased to near pre-pandemic levels.
• Mass transit ridership continues to grow although many riders have concerns about
the frequency and reliability of service as well as connectivity between different buses
and trains.
• Many workers live near transit options and are open to taking transit.
16
• People who live in the East Bay, North San Jose, and points south would like better
mass transit options.
• There appears to be interest in active mobility commuting but also concerns about
bike safety on the roads.
• Many people who live within five miles of work are open to an active commute.
Conclusions
Given the openness of respondents to sustainable commute modes and the proximity of their
homes to either transit options or their workplace, survey results point to opportunities to
mode shift more workers who commute to Palo Alto by providing information, equipment, and
rewards. Some people would benefit from more availability of bikes, electric bikes, and electric
scooters for commutes of less than five miles. Others just need information about real time
train and bus arrivals, Guaranteed Ride Home availability, rapid bus schedules and routes, and
safer bicycle routes between home and work. And finally, any incentives or rewards, such as
Bike Love rewards, would provide an additional nudge toward a more sustainable commute.