HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2503-4406CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 05, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
15.Palo Alto Transportation Management Association 2024 Annual Report, 2026-28
Strategic Plan, and 2024 Commute Survey
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: May 5, 2025
Report #:2503-4406
TITLE
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association 2024 Annual Report, 2026-28 Strategic Plan,
and 2024 Commute Survey
RECOMMENDATION
No action is recommended, this is for information only. The 2024 Annual Report, 2026-28
Strategic Plan, and 2024 Commute Survey by the Palo Alto Transportation Management
Association are being transmitted for compliance with the contractual agreement.
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 2024 calendar year, detailing how the City’s contribution
was used to support SOV trip reduction, including the results of the Fall 2024 Commute Survey.
The attachment also includes the 2026-28 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. Additional program history
can be found in the April 23, 2024, Finance Committee Staff Report.1
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
1 Finance Committee, April 23, 2024, Agenda Item #6; SR #2403-2761,
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=4692&meetingTemplateType=2&comp
iledMeetingDocumentId=9724
the City initially funded through a $499,880 contract with consultants Moore Iacofano
Goltsman, Inc.2 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. Per the non-profit’s bylaws, the City has a seat on the TMA Board
of Directors, traditionally filled by the City’s Chief Transportation Official.
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.3 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.4 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.5 In that
month, the Council considered its annual budget during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council
2 City Council, August, 11, 2014; Agenda Item #4; SR #4766,
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/43344
3 City Council, June 13, 2016: Agenda Item #10; SR #6823,
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/52687
4 Finance Committee, April 16, 2019; Agenda Item #4; SR #10198,
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/70194, Presentation:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=63435.61&BlobID=70664
5 City Council, May 26, 2020; Informational Report; SR #11307,
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=64175.41&BlobID=76770
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.6 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 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.7 Council
increased the amount allocated via an amendment to the agreement in March of 2024, adding
$42,000 for additional outreach labor and expanded active mobility programs.8 Amendments in
July and December reflect Council’s allocation of $400,000 for FY20259 and changes in funding
and scope for a $10,000 Electric Bike/Scooter Pilot program from the City’s Utilities
Department. For FY 2025, $200,000 can be used for TMA programs anywhere in the City.
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 2024 calendar
year, detailing how public funds were spent to support SOV trip reduction, including the results
of the Fall 2024 Downtown Commute Survey. The attachment also includes the 2026-2028 TMA
Strategic Plan which is required to be updated by the funding agreement.
6 City Council, May 26, 2020; Agenda Item #1; SR #11376;
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/76803, Action Minutes:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=48631.05&BlobID=77870
7 City Council, September 11, 2023; Agenda Item #7; SR #2308-1883;
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=2983&meetingTemplateType=2
8 City Council, February 12, 2024; Agenda Item #11; SR #2311-2233;
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=3638&meetingTemplateType=2&comp
iledMeetingDocumentId=9079
9 City Council, June 17, 2024: Agenda Item #28; SR#2406-3140;
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=5334&meetingTemplateType=2&comp
iledMeetingDocumentId=10470
The Annual Report highlights several accomplishments, noting that in 2024, the TMA:
•Increased funding
o Stability - City of Palo Alto restored PATMA’s budget which allowed expansion
beyond University Ave Downtown and California Ave
o Grant Awards –PATMA won funding from VTA’s Transit Oriented Communities
program ($24,550), City of Palo Alto Utilities ($10,000), Palo Alto Community
Foundation ($5,000), and the Starbucks Neighborhood Grant program ($1,000)
o Fair market value of transit passes – Securing free Caltrain GoPasses (worth
$4,200/year each) and reduced-cost $169/year VTA passes (worth $1,080/year
each) allowed PATMA to help more workers at a lower cost/user
•Expanded geographic reach
o Performed outreach at the Stanford Mall, along El Camino Real, at Midtown, and
in South Palo Alto
o In these areas, PATMA offered sustainable transportation programs, conducted
the annual commute survey, and presented an e-bike and e-scooter pilot
program
•Small business support
o Ahead of Caltrans’ El Camino Real repaving project where bike lanes will be
replacing 220 on-street parking spaces, PATMA offered train and bus passes and
refurbished bikes to workers who park on El Camino
•Leveraged partnerships
•Dramatically reduced cost/user/month from $77 in Dec 2023 to $51 in Dec 2024
Key insights from the 2024 Commute Survey about potential future directions for mode shifts
targets include:
•Light office (77%) and government (72%) sectors have higher drive alone rates than
service (55%) and tech (55%) sectors.
•Seventy percent (70%) of survey respondents live in a city served by Caltrain or a bus
that runs directly to Palo Alto.
The Strategic Plan details the following goals for the next three years.
•Year 1: Scale up the number of transit passes; scale up the number of active mobility
commuters traveling <3 miles
•Year 2: Make it easier for commuters to access multiple sustainable commute modes;
support active commutes <5 miles
•Year 3: Leverage new technologies and programs to enable workers to commute
without a personal vehicle
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The City’s S/CAP includes two mobility goals that are directly supported by the work of the
TMA:
•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 was approved from the University Avenue Parking Fund
($175,000) and the General Fund ($25,000). The current funding agreement is a three-year
agreement expiring at the end of FY 2026 (June 30, 2026). As part of the FY 2025 Adopted
Budget, a total of $400,000 was approved as the ongoing funding amount for the TMA from the
University Avenue Parking Fund ($200,000) and the General Fund ($200,000).
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: 2024 Palo Alto TMA Annual Report, 2026-28 Strategic Plan, and 2024 Commute
Survey
APPROVED BY:
Lily Lim-Tsao, Interim Chief Transportation Official
March 4, 2024
Palo Alto City Councilmembers
Subject: PATMA’s 20024 Annual Report, Three-Year Strategic Plan, and 2024 Commute Survey
Dear Councilmembers,
The non-profit Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) is pleased to present three
reports for your consideration. Written in an easy to skim style, you will see attached PATMA’s 2024
Annual Report, Three-Year Strategic Plan (FY 2026 – FY 2028), and 2024 Commute Survey.
In FY 2025, PATMA’s budget was restored to $400,000/year, closer to pre-pandemic levels. With the
same budget level in FY 2026, we will be able to grow our impact by further reducing traffic, demand for
parking, and greenhouse gas emissions while supporting local businesses. We also understand the City’s
budget situation and offer three budget scenarios.
Three budget scenarios for FY 2026
Expenses Expenses
$400,000
budget
Expenses
$350,000
budget
Expenses
$300,000
budget
ALTRANS management $105,000 $95,000 $85,000
Business (office supplies, insurance, software) $8,000 $8,000 $8,000
Lyft $3,000 $3,000 $0
ALTRANS operations & admin $105,000 $84,000 $75,000
Transit passes - Clipper card expenses $115,000 $100,000 $100,000
Commute survey $28,000 $28,000 $28,000
E-bike e-scooter pilot $4,000 $0 $0
Refurbished bikes $4,000 $4,000 $4,000
Bike Love $28,000 $28,000 $0
Total $400,000 $350,000 $300,000
The $400,000 scenario represents a continuation of the restored budget PATMA realized in FY 2025,
which would allow PATMA to grow the program’s impact to 500 parking spaces freed up. The $350,000
budget (cutting staff hours and transit pass expenditures) would allow us to grow the program to 400
parking spaces freed up. A smaller $300,000 budget (cutting staff hours further, cutting the Lyft
afterhours program and cutting the BikeLove $5/day rewards program) would maintain our impact at
312 parking spaces freed up.
PATMA is pleased to support the City Council’s goals on climate change, community wellness, and
economic development. Let me know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Justine Burt
Executive Director, Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
2024 Annual Report
January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
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 2025
Table of Contents
Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................2
About PATMA .............................................................................................................................2
PATMA’s Top Five Accomplishments in 2024 ..............................................................................3
PATMA Programs ........................................................................................................................5
Benefits of PATMA Programs ....................................................................................................10
Program Results ........................................................................................................................11
Testimonials ..............................................................................................................................14
Budget ......................................................................................................................................15
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................18
Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
2024 Annual Report
Executive Summary
With leadership and financial support from the City of Palo Alto, as well as collaborative
partnerships with regional transit agencies, local community-based organizations, and
grantmaking organizations, in 2024, the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
(PATMA) delivered mode shift results efficiently and cost-effectively.
PATMA’s sustainable transportation programs for workers – free train and bus passes, $5/day
Bike Love bicycle commute incentive rewards, free refurbished bicycles, after-hour Lyft rides,
and a new e-bike e-scooter pilot – in 2024, resulted in a reduction in demand for 312 parking
spaces around town, 1,542,441 fewer vehicle miles traveled, and 603 fewer tons of
greenhouse gas emissions. With these accomplishments, PATMA supported three of the 2024
Palo Alto City Council’s four priorities: economic development, climate change, and community
health.
Highlights of PATMA’s work in 2024 included:
• Increased funding
o Stability - City of Palo Alto restored PATMA’s budget which allowed expansion
beyond University Ave Downtown and California Ave
o Grant awards – PATMA won funding from VTA’s Transit Oriented Communities
program, City of Palo Alto Utilities, Palo Alto Community Foundation, and the
Starbucks Neighborhood Grant program
o Fair market value of transit passes – Securing free Caltrain GoPasses (worth
$4,200/year each) and reduced cost $169/year VTA passes (worth $1,080/year
each) allowed PATMA to help more workers at a lower cost/user
• Expanded geographic reach
o Performed outreach at the Stanford Mall, along El Camino Real, at Midtown, and
in South Palo Alto
o In these areas, PATMA offered sustainable transportation programs, conducted
the annual commute survey, and presented an e-bike and e-scooter pilot
program
• Small business support
o Ahead of Caltrans’ El Camino Real repaving project where bike lanes will be
replacing 220 on-street parking spaces, PATMA offered train and bus passes and
refurbished bikes to workers who park on El Camino
• Leveraged partnerships
• A dramatic reduction in cost/user/month from $77 in Dec 2023 to $51 in Dec 2024
These developments lay a strong foundation for PATMA’s future mode shift work.
2 | P a g e
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, and, starting in 2024, from the City’s
General Fund. This funding allows PATMA to provide free transit passes, $5/day Bike Love
rewards, refurbished bicycles, and late-night Lyft rides chiefly to low wage service sector
workers in the commercial districts of Palo Alto.
About PATMA
Staff
PATMA is a non-profit, staffed by ALTRANS TMA Inc., a firm specializing in transportation
demand management (TDM). Staff providing on-going support for PATMA include:
● Justine Burt, Executive Director
● Sana Ahmed, Program Coordinator
● Stephen Blaylock, President, ALTRANS TMA Inc.
● Andrew Ridley, Chief Operating Officer, ALTRANS TMA Inc.
Board of Directors
In 2024, two long-serving board members (Philip Kamhi, the City’s Chief Transportation Official,
and Brad Ehikian) stepped down and one new member (Steven Lee) joined. The City’s seat on
the board will be filled by Interim Chief Transportation Official Lily Lim-Tsao until a permanent
replacement is identified. A representative from the tech sector helped diversify our board
whose members at the end of the year included:
● Cedric de la Beaujardiere, resident (Board Chair)
● Rob George, Philz Coffee (Treasurer and a founding board member)
● Shannon Rose McEntee, resident (Secretary)
● Lily Lim-Tsao, City of Palo Alto
● Sebastian Mafla, Sheraton
● Nathaniel Duncan, Patagonia
● Alejandra Mier, Coupa Café
● Steven Lee, Meta
The PATMA 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. Meeting details and zoom links can be found on our
Meetings page at https://www.paloaltotma.org/meetings-reports.
3 | P a g e
New Mission and Core Values
In 2024, PATMA staff and Board members updated PATMA’s mission and core values to be
more aspirational and memorable. The new mission statement reads “Better commutes for
everyone.” PATMA’s core values describe how our non-profit improves life for the workers and
residents of Palo Alto:
• Traffic and parking – reduce traffic congestion and demand for parking
• 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
Incorporating 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 2024, the City Council announced its
priorities for the year:
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 work supports three of these priorities: climate change, community health, and
economic development. Regarding City Council’s priority of addressing climate change, PATMA
helps reduce greenhouse gases from on-road transportation sources which are 51.7% of Palo
Alto’s emissions, according to the City’s 2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions inventory.
Supporting City of Palo Alto’s 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. One S/CAP mobility goal relevant to PATMA
regarding reducing greenhouse gas emissions is “increasing the mode share for active
transportation (walking, biking) and transit from 19% to 40% of local work trips by 2030.”
The S/CAP focuses on launching effective programs for emissions reductions with the highest
impact and lowest cost. PATMA’s programs help accomplish this goal as noted in the following
section.
PATMA’s Top Five Accomplishments
The following were highlights of PATMA’s work in 2024.
1. Rebuilt the transit pass program from a Covid-induced low of 28 people served in May
2020 to a high of 300 in December 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers. Figure 1
shows the number of PATMA-granted transit passes in circulation among Palo Alto
workers over the past six years.
4 | P a g e
Figure 1: Transit passes activated 2019 – 20241
2. Activated and distributed 197 Caltrain GoPasses from the Caltrain GoPass Donation
Program. Likewise, 67 VTA Smartpasses were distributed to low wage service sector
workers in 2024.
3. Received approval from transit agencies to continue distributing Caltrain GoPasses and
VTA Smartpasses in 2025 to low wage service sector workers to help grow transit
ridership.
4. Reduced 605 tons of greenhouse gas emissions
5. Started an e-bike and e-scooter pilot program with City of Palo Alto Utilities funding to
develop case studies that will inspire other low wage service sector workers to consider
active commutes.
These activities demonstrate the power of partnerships with local and regional organizations as
well as the trust PATMA has established with local business managers.
1 Note the drop of transit passes between Dec 2023 and Jan 2024. This is due to the fact that in
2023, PATMA started distribuing free annual Caltrain GoPasses instead of renewing and paying
for Caltrain passes each month. In December 2023, about 100 workers had moved to different
jobs outside of Palo Alto and did not renew their GoPasses for January 2024.
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5 | P a g e
Programs
With funding from the City’s University Avenue Parking Fund, California Avenue Parking Fund,
and General Fund, PATMA provides free Clipper Cards loaded with monthly or annual passes for
Caltrain, VTA buses, SamTrans buses, and Dumbarton Transbay buses. PATMA also offers $10
credits for after-hours Lyft rides of less than five miles, refurbished bicycles at no cost to the
recipient, and $5/day Bike Love rewards. During 2024, PATMA expanded outreach efforts to the
Stanford Mall, throughout the length of El Camino Real, at Midtown, and in South Palo Alto.
Service sector workers who receive transit passes work primarily in food service
establishments, retail, and accommodation. Light office workers who receive transit passes or
accrue Bike Love rewards include staff at Palo Alto’s banks, dental and medical offices, and
professional firms such as accounting and law offices.
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
the commercial areas of Palo Alto and who do not already receive employer-supported TDM
benefits. Workers at the Stanford Research Park and Stanford University are ineligible for
PATMA’s programs as these organizations have their own TDM programs.
Pilot: E-bicycles and e-scooters
With funding from the City of Palo Alto Utilities Department, in 2024 PATMA ran a pilot
program to study e-bikes and e-scooters for active mobility commutes. Four pilot participants
making less than $70,000/year received either an e-bike and safety equipment, or a 12-month
e-scooter lease. The intent was to study how many times a week they used the e-bike or e-
scooter, how many device miles they traveled, and understand supports and barriers to device
use. The four participants in the 12-month pilot have realized the following benefits.
Figure 2: E-scooter and e-bike pilot case studies
Katrina uses an Unagi e-scooter to travel the
first mile to the Santa Clara Caltrain station,
folds it up and brings it onboard, then rides
the last mile to work. During the week she
often scooters to restaurants Downtown to
grab lunch. But the big time savings comes
when she leaves work. The e-scooter allows
her to catch the train and get home in time
to pick up her kids from school.
6 | P a g e
Rickaya’s kids have scooters. Now that she
also has an e-scooter she can keep up with
them. After dropping them off at school, she
rides off to meet either the Caltrain or a VTA
bus. She folds up the Unagi e-scooter and
brings it on, then scooters the last half-mile to
work. Rickaya finds this a faster way to
commute from Santa Clara given rush hour
traffic or accidents on Highway 101 or 280.
Antonio works at Patagonia and lives in
Mountain View. Each morning, once he’s
ready to leave for work, he looks at the time
of the next Caltrain and the weather to
figure out if he wants to bike to Caltrain or
bike five miles to work. One handy feature
of his Lectric folding e-bike is that it does
not take up much space when folded, which
makes it easier to store safely inside at
home and at work. The benefits of the e-
bike to Antonio are getting exercise and
fresh air, relaxing on Caltrain, saving money
on gas, and helping the environment.
7 | P a g e
Dorothee teaches cooking classes at Taste
Buds Kitchen in Midtown. She loves
commuting to work from Menlo Park on her
Lectric e-bike among the beautiful, tree-lined
streets of Palo Alto. The fresh air and exercise
energize her on the way to work.
Refurbished bicycles
In 2024, PATMA continued working with local non-profit Bike Exchange for a pilot program to
provide seven refurbished bicycles and safety gear to essential workers. This pilot is open to
workers making less than $70,000/year. Figure 3 shows several Palo Alto-based essential
workers receiving their refurbished bicycles.
Figure 3: Essential workers taking delivery of their “new” refurbished bikes
8 | P a g e
Lyft after-hours rides
The Lyft after-hours program provides rides home to workers commuting less than five miles
after transit stops running.
9 | P a g e
PATMA programs without an income threshold
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 $599 per
year per commuter. Automated travel mode detection identifies eligible bike, e-bike, e-scooter,
and e-skateboard trips. Eligibility is determined by trips that stop or start within geofences
around 30 Caltrain stations and five commercial areas (Downtown, California Ave., Stanford
Mall, El Camino Real, and Midtown). Incentive dollars are instantly redeemable at local
merchants via reloadable Apple/Google Wallet Virtual Visa cards.
Figure 4 shows the current geofences that mark commute destinations that earn workers
rewards. This map includes all Caltrain stations, for workers who use a bike or e-scooter for
first/last mile, as well as expanded commercial areas.
Figure 4: Bike Love Geofence Boundaries
In 2024, 35% of the transaction values of redeemed rewards happened in Palo Alto, in support
of the City Council’s 2024 priority for economic development. The ability of Bike Love users to
10 | P a g e
redeem incentives at Palo Alto businesses helps keep dollars in the local economy. Figure 5
provides detail about where Bike Love users spend their reward funds.
Figure 5: Where Bike Love Rewards Were Spent in 2024
All
Palo
Alto
Mountain
View
Redwood
City
San
Francisco
San
Carlos
Sunny-
vale
Menlo
Park
Amazon
or online
Other
cities
Transactions
value ($) 17,503 4,944 596 195 1344 110 231 2,570 3,586 3,927
Number of
transactions 877 308 20 12 55 22 8 114 172 166
Source: Motion
This information is gathered from 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 participation gives them a competitive advantage
over similar businesses in nearby cities. Being able to provide transit passes to their employees
helps 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 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.
11 | P a g e
Program Results
Results of the TMA’s program management, outreach, and program operation labor in Figures 6
– 12 depict the number of transit passes distributed, the cost per freed up parking space
(cost/user), vehicle miles traveled avoided, and greenhouse gases reduced.
Among all businesses served, Figure 6 gives a breakdown by business with the number of their
employees in descending order who had an active train or bus pass from PATMA in December
2024.
Figure 6: Number of Transit Passes Distributed by Employer in December 2024
Employer
Transit
Pass
Count
Sheraton/Westin 33
Nobu Hotel 16
Ettan 12
Whole Foods 10
Patagonia 9
Neiman Marcus 8
Walgreens 7
Coupa Cafe 7
Apple 7
Watercourse Way 6
Rangoon Ruby 6
Philz Coffee 6
Macy's 6
Crepevine 6
West Elm 5
The Palo Alto Inn 5
SkinSpirit 5
The Melt 4
Sephora 4
Peloton 4
Lytton Gardens
(Front Porch) 4
Christine Hansen
DDS 4
VIP Vein Treatment
Clinic 3
True Foods Kitchen 3
Employer
Transit
Pass
Count
San Agus 3
Oren's Hummus 3
Lima Ruby Peruvian
Restaurant 3
Hobee's 3
Glass Slipper Inn 3
Buca di Beppo 3
Avenidas 3
Yayoi 2
Wells Fargo 2
Webster House 2
Vizavoo Salon 2
Starbucks 2
Spring Spa 2
School of Rock 2
Restoration
Hardware (RH) 2
Palo Alto
Orthodontics 2
Palo Alto Oral and
Maxillofacial surgery 2
Palo Alto Bicycles 2
Mollie Stone’s
Market 2
McDonald’s 2
L&P Aesthetics 2
Kowa Ramen 2
Kindercare Day Care
Center 2
Equinox 2
Curry Up Now 2
Employer
Transit
Pass
Count
Creamery 2
Coach 2
City of Palo Alto
(interns) 2
Cardinal Hotel 2
Bright Horizons 2
Blue Bottle 2
Bloomingdales 2
Arya Steakhouse 2
Zola + Zola Bar 1
Zareen's 1
Xfinity 1
Wu Orthodontics 1
Williams Sonoma 1
Wetzel Pretzel 1
Victra 1
Trader Joes 1
The Real Real 1
TAVERNA 1
Tamarine 1
Tacolicious 1
Summit Bicycles 1
Sprinkles 1
Somi Somi 1
Smiles By Pai 1
Security Industry
Specialists 1
Rooh 1
PIP Printing 1
12 | P a g e
Employer
Transit
Pass
Count
Palo Alto Bilingual
Montessori
Academy 1
Pacific catch 1
Nola Restaurant &
Bar 1
Matroid 1
Lush Cosmetics 1
La Bodeguita del
Medio 1
Kris Hamamoto
DDS, Inc. 1
Khazana Palo Alto 1
Keen Garage 1
K. Minamoto 1
Employer
Transit
Pass
Count
Immersion Spa 1
Imaginemos
Oruguitas 1
Guckenheimer: Palo
Alto Club 1
Gott's Roadside 1
Gong Cha 1
Gardening 1
Fast Repair 1
Everything but
Water 1
Everlane 1
Embarcadero Media
Foundation 1
Dr. William Tseng 1
Employer
Transit
Pass
Count
Downtown Streets
Team 1
Da Sichuan 1
Comfort Inn 1
Clement Hotel 1
City National Bank 1
Channing House 1
Caretaker (home in
Palo Alto) 1
Cafe 220 1
Block Advisors 1
Bike Connection 1
Beyond Explorations 1
Grand Total 304
Figure 7 provides the number of transit passes PATMA distributed to businesses along El Camino Real
(between Park Blvd and San Antonio Rd) by month. PATMA’s proactive transit pass outreach efforts
were conducted along with Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition volunteers to help reduce demand for parking
ahead of the Caltrans repaving and bike lane project in fall 2024.
Figure 7: Transit Passes Distributed Along El Camino Real by Month in 2024
Month Caltrain VTA SamTrans Dumbarton Express
Jan
Feb
Mar 12
Apr 1 1
May 1
Jun
Jul
Aug 2
Sep 3 1 1 1
Oct 3 10 1
Nov 6 2 1
Dec
Total 14 26 4 2
PATMA’s marketing and outreach efforts throughout Palo Alto in 2024 resulted in the following impacts.
13 | P a g e
Figure 8: Number of Commuters Diverted from Single-Occupancy Vehicles (average of three months)
Program Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024
Transit passes 153 182 216.67 286.67
Bike Love (>12
rides/month)
13.33 15.33 14.67 10
Lyft 3.33 2.67 3.33 4
Total 169.67 200.0 234.67 300.67
Figures 9 and 10 show the average cost per month that PATMA paid to mode shift workers out
of single-occupancy vehicles and into a sustainable transportation commute. The drop in
monthly cost between December 2023 and December 2024 is partially attributable to the
increased number of GoPasses Caltrain donated to PATMA and the highly discounted
Smartpasses VTA sold to PATMA.
Figure 9: Cost per User in 2023
Cost per
user
Jan
'23
Feb
'23
Mar
'23
Q1
'23
Apr
'23 May '23 Jun '23 Q2 '23 Jul '23
Aug
'23
Sep
'23
Q3
'23
Oct
'23
Nov
'23 Dec '23
Q4
'23
ANNUAL
TOTALS
Transit
Pass
Program $39.45 $50.29 $44.49 $44.74 $45.98 $39.87 $38.30 $41.38 $36.29 $39.10 $36.97 $37.45 $45.54 $49.40 $31.92 $42.29 $493.97
Bike
Love $54.93 $69.97 $46.02 $56.98 $49.15 $53.16 $61.95 $54.75 $49.78 $72.12 $62.43 $61.44 $65.90 $74.84 $85.02 $75.25 $741.64
Lyft
Program $106.99 $63.31 $86.42 $85.57 $86.89 $100.09 $116.25 $101.08 $107.95 $93.98 $79.12 $93.68 $63.62 $78.78 $112.74 $85.05 $1,099.67
Average
cost/user $67.12 $61.19 $58.98 $62.43 $60.67 $64.37 $72.17 $65.74 $64.67 $68.40 $59.51 $64.19 $58.35 $67.67 $76.56 $67.53 $778.43
Figure 10: Cost per User in 2024
Cost per
user
Jan
'24
Feb
'24
Mar
'24
Q1
'24
Apr
'24 May '24 June
'24 Q2 '24 July '24 Aug
'24
Sept
'24
Q3
'24
Oct
'24
Nov
'24 Dec '24 Q4
'24
ANNUAL
TOTALS
Transit
pass
subsidy
$58.63 $56.07 $56.76 $57.15 $46.33 $50.77 $46.79 $47.97 $40.75 $38.86 $40.27 $39.96 $49.54 $19.69 $15.47 $28.23 $486.55
Bike
Love $52.47 $0.00 $99.46 $50.64 $47.49 $0.00 $69.60 $39.03 $80.36 $65.73 $54.30 $66.80 $54.20 $67.84 $83.84 $68.63 $659.46
Lyft
Program $86.54 $86.65 $69.47 $80.89 $85.35 $124.37 $78.04 $95.92 $94.98 $70.91 $70.00 $78.63 $42.17 $49.94 $54.67 $48.93 $870.62
Average
cost/user $65.88 $47.57 $75.23 $62.89 $59.72 $58.38 $64.81 $60.97 $72.03 $58.50 $54.86 $61.80 $48.63 $45.82 $51.33 $48.60 $672.21
Figure 11 shows the number of avoided vehicle miles traveled as a result of PATMA’s programs.
14 | P a g e
Figure 11: Avoided Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
Program Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024
Transit pass subsidy 247,473.7 320,103.0 403,728.4 561,593.4
Lyft 250.4 211.9 239.1 195.8
Bike Love 2,179.4 2,408.2 2,205.9 1,852.1
Total 249,903.5 322,723.1 406,173.4 563,641.3
Adding up the four quarters, PATMA programs reduced vehicle miles traveled by 1,542,441.
And finally, Figure 12 shows greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of programs.
Figure 12: Greenhouse Gases Reduced (tons)
Program Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024
Transit passes, Lyft and Bike Love 98.5 126.0 158.7 220.2
In 2024, PATMA’s work resulted in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 603.4 tons.
Testimonials
Beyond the quantitative effect, PATMA also has a qualitative impact on workers in Palo Alto.
The following feedback from employees of local businesses shows how much PATMA’s
programs mean to the community. Here are some testimonials we received from retail,
accommodations, and personal services establishments.
• “I was able to ride the bus to work this morning and it was a lot of fun! Very efficient
and saving me lots of gas money! I appreciate your efforts and this awesome program!”
- DéBorah S.
• “I love the ability to combine bicycling and Caltrain and not rely at all on an automobile.
And I am impressed by how the City of Palo Alto encourages and supports that.”
- Dennis W.
• “Estoy muy contenta con el servicio de PATMA. Gracias .” (I am very happy with
PATMA’s service.) - Yuliana A.
• “Being a part of the program really reduces my stress of commuting to work. I don’t
drive because it will cost me too much money to drive back and forth versus taking the
train. It really saves me stress and money.” – Ernestine T.
15 | P a g e
• “Me gusta viajar en el Caltrain porque es comodo, llego a tiempo a mi trabajo, etc.” (I
like to travel on Caltrain because it’s comfortable, I arrive to work on time, etc.) – Juana
A.
• “Es seguro y siempre llego temprano a mi trabajo.” (It’s safe and I always arrive on time
for work.) - Nancy R.
• “No issues! Happy with Caltrain.” – Spencer 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 13 shows the history of PATMA’s funding allotments since FY 2016.
Figure 13: 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.
Grant funding
In 2024, PATMA applied for and received grants from four organizations to use for various
purposes.
• VTA Transit Oriented Communities - $24,550 for outreach and marketing along El
Camino Real to encourage mode shift to VTA buses
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• City of Palo Alto Utilities - $10,000 grant for e-bike and e-scooter pilot
• Palo Alto Community Foundation - $5,000 unrestricted grant
• Starbucks Neighborhood Grant - $1,000 used to purchase Starbucks gift cards to
incentivize filling out PATMA’s commute survey
These grants complemented City of Palo Alto funding.
Figure 14 provides specific information about income sources and expenses by month.
Figure 14: PATMA Income and Expenses in 2024
In Figure 14, the Executive Director’s tasks include program oversight, communications with
stakeholders, finance and accounting activities, managing board meetings, maintaining 501c3
non-profit status, tax filing, and pursuing grant opportunities to diversify funding sources.
The Program Coordinator’s labor involves updating the website, processing new transit pass
requests, communicating about pass renewals, purchasing new passes, replacing lost passes,
troubleshooting, and monitoring accounts.
17 | P a g e
Figures 15 and 16 show relative income sources and expenditures. Note that the fair market
value of Caltrain GoPasses ($827,400) and VTA Smartpasses ($50,105) in 2024 that PATMA
received for free or at a fully discounted price respectively are not included in the income chart.
Figure 15: Overview of 2024 Income
Figure 16: Overview of 2024 Expenses
18 | P a g e
Conclusion
In 2024, PATMA made great strides in mode shift and program cost effectiveness by working in
close collaboration with a number of partners. Thanks to our colleagues at Caltrain and VTA,
additional free Caltrain GoPasses and highly discounted VTA Smartpasses helped bring down
PATMA’s cost/user. Grant providers supported PATMA with specific aspects of our mode shift
work along El Camino Real and during the annual commute survey.
Local and regional non-profits such as Bike Exchange, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Seamless
Bay Area, and Palo Alto Forward either provided services, volunteers, or introduced PATMA to
potential funders to grow our work. In addition, PATMA’s Board members provided valuable
advice and conducted advocacy on PATMA’s behalf.
All together, these collaborations have helped position PATMA to have an even larger impact
reducing traffic, demand for parking, and greenhouse gas emissions in 2025.
Three-Year Strategic Plan
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028
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 2025
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Context ................................................................................................................................................... 2
PATMA Programs .................................................................................................................................... 5
Accomplishments .................................................................................................................................... 6
Three-Year Strategic Planning .................................................................................................................. 7
Workplan .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Budget .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 12
1
PATMA’s Three Year Strategic Plan
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028
Executive Summary
Each year, the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) conducts a Three-Year
Strategic Plan with input from its Board of Directors. This plan provides a roadmap of goals,
strategies, tactics, and objectives that ensure the non-profit will be able to help an increasing
number of workers shift from driving single-occupancy vehicles to sustainable transportation
modes.
PATMA’s work supports local businesses with transportation demand management programs that
help companies attract and retain workers: free transit passes, refurbished bicycles, rewards for
active mobility commutes, and after-hours Lyft rides less than five miles. For the past five years,
PATMA has been rebuilding from a pandemic-induced 90% drop in transit pass requests in early
2020 and in 2024 exceeded pre-pandemic numbers.
In December 2024, PATMA’s programs resulted in a reduction of demand for 312 parking spaces
which yields benefits every day, all year. Building on this success, this Strategic Plan details the
following goals for the next three years.
• Year 1: Scale up the number of transit passes; scale up the number of active mobility
commuters traveling <3 miles
• Year 2: Make it easier for commuters to access multiple sustainable commute modes;
support active commutes <5 miles
• Year 3: Leverage new technologies and programs to enable workers to commute without a
personal vehicle
In the next year, PATMA expects dramatic growth in the number of workers served by our mode shift
work for several reasons. Contractually, PATMA is now able to offer programs beyond just
Downtown and California Ave to most businesses throughout the commercial areas of Palo Alto.
New findings from the 2024 Commute Survey provide insights about which sectors offer mode shift
opportunities. PATMA has the ability to provide programs to workers at a higher income threshold.
Caltrain and VTA have made a large number of free or highly discounted transit passes available.
Starting in FY2025, the City restored PATMA’s baseline $400,000 budget which provided more
resources to accomplish mode shift.
These conditions enable growth in the number of workers served in the next year.
Introduction
The Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) is a non-profit leading efforts to
reshape commute behaviors around town. Abundant mass transit, active mobility (bicycle, electric
scooter, walking), on-demand ride hailing options, as well as trip planning and real time arrival
apps are available to enable workers who live and work near major transit pipelines (Caltrain, VTA
22/522, SamTrans ECR, and the Dumbarton Express) to commute quickly and efficiently without
2
needing to own a personal 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.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2024, PATMA programs resulted in a reduction in
demand for 312 parking spaces around town, 1,542,441 fewer vehicle miles traveled, and 603
fewer tons of greenhouse gas emissions by providing free transit passes, $5/day Bike Love
rewards, refurbished bicycles, and after-hour Lyft rides.
There is potential for PATMA to free up more parking spaces and reduce more greenhouse gas
emissions. The following Three-Year Strategic Plan, which is compiled each year for the next three
years, lays out goals, strategies, tactics, and objectives for PATMA’s work supporting Palo Alto
businesses and workers over the next three years.
Context
Several contextual elements inform this strategic plan, including the City of Palo Alto’s ambitious
greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, the fact that on-road transportation contributes more
than half of Palo Alto’s greenhouse gases emissions, the priorities the Palo Alto City Council sets
each January, PATMA’s contract with the City of Palo Alto, and PATMA’s bylaws, among other
considerations.
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. One S/CAP mobility goal relevant to PATMA regarding
reducing greenhouse gas emissions is “increasing the mode share for active transportation
(walking, biking) and transit from 19% to 40% of local work trips by 2030.” Two sectors in Palo Alto
already exceed the 40% metric.
Data from PATMA’s 2024 commute survey found the following percentages of workers in four
different work sectors in Palo Alto who were commuting by a mode other than driving a single-
occupancy vehicle:
• Service – 45%
• Light office – 23%
• Tech – 45%
• Government – 28%
To help realize the City’s S/CAP goal that 40% of work trips by 2030 be by transit or active mobility,
PATMA plans to support each sector in different ways. The service sector - in retail, food service,
and accommodation - has a high sustainable commute rate already but also high turnover. This is a
sector whose employees served as frontline workers during the pandemic, that are price sensitive
and have elastic demand for driving to work, and as a result is most open to PATMA’s sustainable
commute mode shift programs. PATMA will continue offering programs to new service sector
employees.
3
With PATMA’s new higher income threshold, PATMA will be able to serve more members of front
office staff in the light office sector who have been just above PATMA’s old income threshold of
$70,000/year. Finally, PATMA will support mode shift efforts at large tech companies and the City
of Palo Alto by sharing annual commute survey findings, and in the case of tech companies, table
at commuter fairs when requested. All of these efforts will help realize the City’s S/CAP goals.
City Council Priorities
Each year, the Palo Alto City Council sets their strategic priorities for the year. In January 2025, the
new set of goals included:
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 low wage workers with commute counseling, access to free
transit passes, rewards for bicycling to work, and late night ride hailing services.
PATMA’s Contract with the City of Palo Alto
The contract between the City of Palo Alto and PATMA provides guidance about how public funds
should be used to ensure the public good as well as planning, reporting, and surveying
requirements.
• Use of City funds – “PATMA shall use the City Funds for “pilot projects” intended to reduce
single occupancy vehicle trips by Downtown and California Avenue Business District
workers, as mutually agreed upon by the City Manager and PATMA. For FY24 and FY25,
$200,000 of City Funds may be used to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips anywhere in
Palo Alto. Pilot projects may include purchase and distribution of transit passes, active
commute rewards, support for carpooling, and other measures to address first mile and
last mile connections. If PATMA uses City Funds to purchase transit passes to give away
free-of-charge, the free transit passes shall be provided solely to low income workers.”
• Planning – “PATMA shall: (a) conduct an annual strategic planning session producing 3-year
goals and objectives and funding requirements, and prepare an annual budget with
projected metrics (cost per mode shift, ROI, etc.), and (b) annually provide to the City a
detailed, updated strategic plan and budget. The strategic plan may utilize scenarios to
illustrate the return on investment associated with different funding levels. The strategic
plan shall identify the projects proposed to be funded with the City Funds for the City
Manager’s review and approval.”
• Reporting – “PATMA shall provide the City with quarterly written reports on the
implementation and effectiveness of pilot programs funded by the City, including
quantitative measures of SOV trip reduction and mode shift achieved, metrics used, cost
4
per employee mode shift, and how the City Funds were expended. PATMA shall submit the
reports at the same time that PATMA submits the quarterly invoice to the City.”
• Surveying – “PATMA shall conduct a robust survey of Downtown and California Avenue
Business District employee commute patterns on an annual basis. Additional areas of Palo
Alto where the TMA has been active may be included in the survey.”
PATMA’s Bylaws
PATMA’s bylaws provide operating instructions for the non-profit. One way it does this is by
ensuring PATMA’s board members represent a range of interests among the Palo Alto community
as well as the number of board members PATMA should have.
• Qualifications of Directors. “The Board shall in good faith strive to include as Directors,
representatives from major stakeholder groups serving PATMA’s current or
planned/proposed service areas, including representatives of the following industries:
technology, real estate development, retail and/or hospitality, philanthropy, and traditional
office (e.g., finance, accounting, legal) and including representatives representing
residential interests.”
• Number of Directors. “The authorized number of Directors shall consist of at least five but
no more than thirteen Directors.”
New Mission and Core Values
In 2024, PATMA staff and their board rewrote PATMA’s mission statement to make it more
memorable and rewrote its core values to provide clarity on what the non-profit seeks to
accomplish.
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
Higher Income Threshold
In 2018, PATMA raised its income threshold for program participation from $50,000 to
$70,000/year. Since then, the cost of living in the Bay Area has increased substantially. In January
2025, PATMA’s board decided to raise the threshold to 80% of Area Median Income in Santa Clara
County which in 2024 was $103,200/year for a household of one.
All together, this context provides guidance to PATMA about how to structure our programs to best
serve the public’s interest.
5
PATMA Programs
Programs with a $100,000/year income threshold
Transit Passes
Currently, PATMA focuses on supporting essential workers in the commercial districts of
Downtown and California Ave, at the Stanford Mall, along El Camino Real, at Midtown, and along
San Antonio Rd. If these workers are driving to work and make less than $100,000/year1, they can
receive free Caltrain, SamTrans, or Dumbarton Transbay bus passes.2
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 PATMA’s income
threshold 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 provides these to each essential worker receiving
a refurbished bike.
E-bike e-scooter pilot
This pilot studied two mode shift scenarios: active commutes via e-bike and first/last mile
solutions via e-scooter. Four pilot participants making less than $70,000/year received either an e-
bike and safety equipment, or a 12-month e-scooter lease. The intent was to study how many times
a week they used the e-bike or e-scooter, how many device miles they traveled, and understand
supports and barriers to device use. In addition, based on what is learned in the pilot, PATMA will
create case studies with photos to inspire other workers in similar situations who drive alone to
work.
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.
Program without an income threshold
Bike Love
PATMA’s Bike Love app provides $5/day up to $599/year to workers in Palo Alto’s commercial
districts 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 build active mobility habits. See Figure 1 for a
map of Bike Love program boundaries within which workers earn rewards. The Bike Love app also
1 PATMA’s new income threshold is currently 80% of Santa Clara County’s Area Median Income, which in 2024 was
$103,200 for a household of one person. For the sake of memorability to PATMA’s target audience, marketing
materials will say $100,000/year.
2 VTA is currently working on a contract amendment to allow PATMA to raise the income limit for access to
Smartpasses to workers making less than 80% of Area Median Income.
6
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.
In 2024, 35% of Bike Love reward
transactions were redeemed at
Palo Alto-based businesses which
is another way that PATMA
supports local businesses and
multiplies program impact to
benefit the local economy.
Accomplishments
PATMA’s sustainable
transportation programs in 2024,
resulted in a reduction in demand
for 312 parking spaces around town, 1,542,441 fewer vehicle miles traveled, and 603 fewer tons
of greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of these results were due to the transit pass program.
See Figure 2 for the number of transit passes activated over the past five years.
Figure 2: Transit passes activated 2019-20243
3 Note the drop in the number of transit passes activated in January 2024. This was due to a switch from monthly
pass purchases to annual free passes. High turnover in the service sector means about 100 workers no longer
needed transit passes for 2025 which PATMA found out about after asking if they wanted to re-register in
December 2024 for 2025.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Figure 1: Geofenced areas for Bike Love rewards
7
Three-Year Strategic Planning
With this context in mind, PATMA staff and board members met in person in December 2024 to
discuss strategic planning for the next three years. Input gathered informs PATMA’s path forward
with goals (targets to achieve), strategies (plan of action), tactics (specific actions), and objectives
(measurable outcomes) for FY2026-FY2028.
Year 1 (Jul 2025-Jun 2026)
Assumptions: Free Caltrain GoPasses and highly discounted VTA Smartpasses will continue to be
available for PATMA to distribute to low wage workers
Goals
• Scale up number of transit passes activated
• Scale up number of workers commuting <3 miles by active mobility
• Support S/CAP goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Support local businesses to attract and retain workers
Strategies
• Develop or deepen relationships with managers at light office and service sector
businesses
• Develop or deepen relationships with community-based organizations that work on
transportation, housing and/or climate issues
• Raise awareness about PATMA’s programs
• Develop new pilot programs
Tactics
• Update and expand marketing collateral for transit passes and active mobility
o Update one page flyer with $100,000 income threshold for English, Spanish, and
Mandarin. Translate into Vietnamese.
o Develop window clings (non-adhesive decal) for windows of businesses that receive
PATMA incentives
• Deploy 8 minute 1:1 manager training on mode shift programs and tools beneficial to
workers (transit passes, refurbished bikes, $5/day Bike Love, after-hours Lyft, Transit app)
o 40% transit or active mobility commutes by 2030 S/CAP goal
o One page flyer
o Real time arrival information: Transit app and Caltrain live system map
o Window clings – membership and ask them to post
• Refer a co-worker outreach wherein workers receive a free coffeehouse gift card if the
coworker they refer receives a transit pass
• Refine application process for refurbished bicycle program (apply, download Bike Love
app, and pass bike safety quiz) before workers can receive a refurbished bicycle
• Conduct annual commute survey
8
• Develop pilot programs that encourage active mobility – e-bike financing, bike safety quiz
and classes
• Hold a promotional event around active mobility
• Organize interactive information sharing event with other Bay Area TMA and TDM
professionals
• Deepen relationships with non-profit organizations that have similar missions and goals
(Friends of Caltrain, Seamless Bay Area, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Bike Exchange,
Alta Housing)
• Develop and share short, relevant content regularly with local CBOs and the Chamber of
Commerce to distribute to their membership
• Develop and offer short content regularly to local online news outlets
Objectives
• # freed up parking spaces
• # workers using transit passes
• # workers commuting by active mobility
• # vehicle miles traveled reduced
• # tons greenhouse gas emissions reduced
• # survey respondents
Year 2 (Jul 2026-Jun 2027)
Assumptions: Availability of Tap to Pay, expanded Bay Pass program, and/or Mobility Wallet pilot
Goals
• Scale up number of transit passes
• Enable workers who live outside Santa Clara County to access multiple sustainable
commute modes and make transit connections seamlessly
• Scale up number of active mobility commutes <5 miles
• Find creative solutions to challenges of workers interested in active mobility commutes <5
miles
Strategies
• Raise awareness about PATMA’s programs by strengthening relationships with local
business managers and community-based organizations
• Update printed and digital promotional materials
• Leverage new technologies for trip planning and payment
• Develop new pilot programs
Tactics
• Develop e-bike financing pilot program
9
• Update printed and digital materials to address gaps in knowledge and mode shift friction
points
• Train managers on new apps that help workers plan and pay for sustainable commute
modes
• Update branding materials – PATMA as a fun, trusted, and valued brand
• Further streamline application process
• Conduct commute survey
• Hold a promotional event
• Develop and share content with inspiring new case studies about local workers commuting
by transit or active mobility
Objectives
• # freed up parking spaces
• # workers using transit passes
• # workers commuting by active mobility
• # vehicle miles traveled reduced
• # tons greenhouse gas emissions reduced
• # survey respondents
Year 3 (Jul 2027-Jun 2028)
Assumptions: 2026 Bay Area ballot initiative passed providing more funding for transit agencies
which allows them to increase service frequency, Mobility Hubs are available around town
Goals
• Workers can easily commute without a personal vehicle
• Study and leverage new technologies (ex., Mobility as a Service to plan and pay for
commute trips, commute management platform)
• Support the evolution of our region’s commuting systems
• 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
• Help expand clean transportation options available to workers in Palo Alto
Tactics
• Develop new case studies of workers who commute by transit or active mobility
• Test new technology Mobility-as-a-Service planning and payment options as they become
available
• Promote Mobility Hubs that are available
10
Objectives
• # parking spaces freed up
• # vehicle miles traveled reduced
• # tons greenhouse gas emissions reduced
• # survey respondents
Workplan
Year 1
The flow of work over the course of FY2026 is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Year 1 workplan
Jul
‘25
Aug
‘25
Sep
‘25
Oct
‘25
Nov
‘25
Dec
‘25
Jan
‘26
Feb
‘26
Mar
‘26
Apr
‘26
May
‘26
Jun
‘26
Events X X X
Market transit passes X X X X
Develop pilot X X
Translate materials into
additional language
X
Commute survey X X X
Apply for grant funding X X
Deliver Commute
Survey, Annual Report,
and Strategic Plan
reports
X
Market active mobility X X X
Budget
Looking back at funding levels since PATMA’s inception in 2016, PATMA grew over several years
and demonstrated cost-effective successes freeing up parking spaces, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, and reducing vehicle miles traveled until the pandemic. Figure 4 shows historic budget
trends.
11
Figure 4: PATMA funding since inception
The PATMA baseline budget is $400,000. This level allows PATMA to continue with 2 part-time staff
and pull in additional contractors on an ad hoc basis to support seasonal activities such as active
mobility marketing in the spring and Commute Survey distribution in the fall. A status quo budget
for FY2026 will allow PATMA to:
• Perform marketing and outreach to target sectors
• Develop or deepen relationships with business managers who are the gatekeepers to
workers who could use PATMA’s programs and services
• Conduct the annual commute survey
• Free up additional parking spaces, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ease traffic
congestion
In 2024, the cost/user/year or cost to free up a parking space was $672 while in 2023 the
cost/user/year was $780. This includes the cost to purchase transit passes, Lyft rides, refurbished
bicycles, and $5/day Bike Love rewards. Figure 5 provides three budget scenarios for PATMA’s
projected expenses in FY2026. The $400,000 scenario represents a continuation of the restored
budget PATMA realized in FY2025, closer to a pre-pandemic level which would allow PATMA to
grow the program’s impact to 500 parking spaces freed up. The $350,000 budget would allow us to
grow the program to 400 parking spaces freed up. A smaller $300,000 budget would maintain our
impact at 312 parking spaces freed up.
12
Figure 5: Three budget scenarios for FY2026
Expenses Expenses
$400,000
budget
Expenses
$350,000
budget
Expenses
$300,000
budget
ALTRANS management $105,000 $95,000 $85,000
Business (office supplies, insurance, software) $8,000 $8,000 $8,000
Lyft $3,000 $3,000 $0
ALTRANS operations & admin $105,000 $84,000 $75,000
Transit passes - Clipper card expenses $115,000 $100,000 $100,000
Commute survey $28,000 $28,000 $28,000
E-bike e-scooter pilot $4,000 $0 $0
Refurbished bikes $4,000 $4,000 $4,000
Bike Love $28,000 $28,000 $0
Total $400,000 $350,000 $300,000
In the $350,000 budget scenario, PATMA would cut staff hours and expenditures on transit passes.
In the $300,000 budget scenario, PATMA would cut back further on staff hours, cut the Lyft
afterhours program, and cut the BikeLove $5/day rewards program.
As circumstances change, PATMA has the ability to adjust 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
PATMA will continue to operate leanly and use our budget effectively to maximize impact.
Conclusion
Many public and private organizations in the Bay Area are working hard to facilitate a future
seamless, integrated low-carbon transportation system that will lower personal transportation
costs and reduce GHG emissions. PATMA will continue to monitor developments in these areas
and adjust our programs accordingly to best serve Palo Alto businesses.
In support of the local economy, over the next three years PATMA will look for opportunities to help
more workers shift to a sustainable commute as we raise awareness about the benefits of transit
and active mobility commutes, offer information about sustainable transportation options, and
provide programs and incentives for mode shift.
2024 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
Sebastian Mafla, Sheraton
Alejandra Mier, Coupa Cafe
Nathan Duncan, Patagonia
Steven Lee, Meta
December 2024
Prepared by:
Justine Burt
Sana Ahmed
ALTRANS TMA Inc
302 Toyon Ave, F, 410
San Jose, CA 95127
www.altrans.net
Table of Contents
Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Survey Population ................................................................................................................................ 3
Survey Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 6
Results ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Key Insights ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 18
1
Executive Summary
In August and September 2024, the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association
(PATMA) team surveyed workers in commercial areas of Palo Alto to learn about their
commute habits and preferences. The team conducted online and in-person surveys in
English, Spanish, and Mandarin beginning with emailing and texting then following up with
door-to-door canvassing. This document provides highlights from the survey findings.
The two main objectives of the commute survey were to 1) determine which workers were
open to shifting their commute from single-occupancy vehicles to mass transit or active
mobility options and 2) raise awareness of PATMA’s programs.
Based on the 885 completed surveys, Figure 1 shows the percentage of respondents from the
four main sectors into which PATMA classifies workers: service, government, technology, and
light office.
Figure 1: Survey Respondents by Sector
Figure 2 below provides the primary mode workers use to commute each week. The survey
found that overall 62% of workers surveyed used a single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) as their
primary commute mode in 2024.
2
Figure 2: Primary Commute Mode of Survey Respondents
By separating out commute mode by work sector, Figure 3 illustrates the sectors with the
highest drive alone rates: light office and government.
Figure 3: Commute Mode by Work Sector
With respect to PATMA’s mission, data collected in the 2024 commute survey provides
opportunities to reach more workers and expand PATMA’s program offerings that will help
realize PATMA’s goals to reduce traffic congestion, reduce demand for parking, support small
businesses, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and address social equity issues.
3
Introduction
In 2024, the Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) conducted its ninth
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 and performed outreach in August and September 2024.
The survey was designed to identify how Palo Alto employees working in the commercial
areas of Palo Alto - University Avenue (Downtown), California Avenue (Cal Ave), El Camino
Real, the Stanford Mall, the Charleston Middlefield shopping center, and along San Antonio
Rd - 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.
Survey Population
According to U.S. Census data, the total worker population in Palo Alto was 109,011 in 2022.
The darker shaded areas of Figure 4 show where work centers are clustered Downtown, along
El Camino Real, and along San Antonio close to Highway 101.
Figure 4: Density of Workers in Palo Alto
Source: U.S. Census OnTheMap, 2022
4
The U.S. Census organizes sectors using the North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) categories. Figure 5 shows the number of workers by NAICS codes.
Figure 5: Palo Alto Workers by Sector
NAICS Sector Number of
Employees
Percentage
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting 5 0.0%
Mining, Quarrying, Oil and Gas Extraction 1 0.0%
Utilities 282 0.3%
Construction 881 0.8%
Manufacturing 5,152 4.7%
Wholesale Trade 971 0.9%
Retail Trade 3,991 3.7%
Transportation and Warehousing 2,217 2.0%
Information 18,860 17.3%
Finance and Insurance 4,283 3.9%
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 1,389 1.3%
Professional, Scientific, and Information 23,575 21.6%
Management of Companies and Enterprises 3,049 2.8%
Administration & Support, Waste Management and Remediation 1,915 1.8%
Educational Services 3,420 3.1%
Healthcare and Social Assistance 30,187 27.7%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 831 0.8%
Accommodation and Food Services 4,931 4.5%
Other Services (excluding Public Administration) 2,315 2.1%
Public Administration 756 0.7%
PATMA organizes NAICS sectors into four employer categories – service, light office,
technology, and government – and offers programs to workers in the first two categories.
Figure 6 shows which NAICS code sectors PATMA includes in service, light office, technology,
and government categories.
Figure 6: NAICS Codes and PATMA Classification
NAICS Code NAICS Sector Name PATMA
Classification
11
21
22
23
31-33
42
44-45
48-49
51
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Utilities
Construction
Manufacturing
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Transportation and Warehousing
Information
Service
Service
Government
Service
Service
Service
Service
Service
Technology
5
NAICS Code NAICS Sector Name PATMA
Classification
52
53
54
55
56
61
62
71
72
81
92
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
Light Office
Light Office
Technology
Light Office
Light Office
Light Office
Service
Light Office
Service
Service
Government
Source: NAICS Association
After sorting Census data for the number of workers in the four categories for statistical
purposes, Figure 7 shows the number of workers in each category and the total worker
population in Palo Alto.
Figure 7: Number of Workers in Four Sectors
PATMA Organization Category Number of Employees % Share
Service 50,651 46%
Light Office 14,887 14%
Technology 42,435 39%
Government 1,038 1%
Total 109,011
Subtracting the 29,000 worker population at the Stanford Research Park, which has its own
Transportation Management Association, leaves us with a worker population of 80,011.
After cleaning the survey data of duplicate responses and incomplete surveys, there were a
total of 885 complete surveys of which:
• 399 respondents were service sector workers
• 280 were government staff
• 47 were light office workers
• 142 were tech workers
• 17 chose not to share their employer’s name
This year’s response rate was higher than the three previous years the survey was conducted.
The response rate for each of the nine survey years is shown in Figure 8.
6
Figure 8: Number of PATMA Commute Survey Responses by Year
Year Number of Respondents
2024 885
2023 738
2022 511
2021 551
2019 1,471
2018 496
2017 892
2016 829
2015 1,173
Compared to 2023, stronger working relationships with managers in the technology and
government sectors in 2024 helped boost response numbers.
Survey Methodology
In August and September 2024, the PATMA team reached out to businesses and organizations
to administer the survey. The survey asked questions about the primary travel mode workers
used to commute, their home city, employer, income level, and openness to sustainable
commute options.
The survey was administered through the SurveyMonkey platform which respondents
accessed via personal smartphones through a QR code or PATMA’s electronic tablets. The
electronic survey tool offers 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. Electronic surveys in
Mandarin were administered at restaurants and spas. Block-by-block, door-to-door
canvassing resulted in a dataset representing businesses and organizations in commercial
areas. Door-to-door outreach was bolstered by mass texting and email follow-up to business
contacts.
As noted above, the PATMA team secured 885 responses from a citywide worker population
of 80,011. With a 95% confidence level and a sample size representing 1.1% of the
population, the margin of error for this data is ±3%.
Results
Data collected in this survey shed light on several topics:
• how people commute to work
• where they are coming from
• which workers could commute using one main transit or active mobility option
7
• 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 results for each question.
Q1. In which city and zip code do you live?
Among survey respondents this year, the top 10 home cities are shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9: Top 10 Cities of Survey Respondents
Home City Number Survey Respondents
1 San Jose 152
2 Redwood City 83
3 Palo Alto 80
4 Mountain View 74
5 Sunnyvale 57
6 East Palo Alto 56
7 Santa Clara 36
8 Fremont 33
9 San Francisco 32
10 San Mateo 23
Note that 70% of respondents live in cities served by a train or bus that runs to Palo Alto.
Figure 10 maps the home zip codes of survey respondents in San Francisco Bay Area1
counties.
1 The Bay Area refers to the nine counties that touch the San Francisco Bay plus Santa Cruz County.
8
Figure 10: Number of Respondents by Zip Code
Some survey respondents live beyond the nine county Bay Area near Sacramento, in the Central
Valley, and even one in Southern California.
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 11.
9
Figure 11: Survey Respondents by Sector
Note that the number of survey respondents from technology companies located in
Downtown, Amazon and Salesforce, is higher this year than last. With Return to Office
encouragement from management and corporate concern about greenhouse gas emission
reductions, employees at both companies were encouraged to fill out PATMA’s commute
survey.
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’, we asked people about the main commute mode
they used for the longest segment of their trip. Figure 12 provides information about the
primary commute mode.
10
Figure 12: Primary Commute Mode
Figure 13 divides this data by sector for 2024 to allow comparisons between government, light
office, service, and tech sectors.
Figure 13: Commute Mode by Sector, 2024
A comparison of commute modes over the past several years is shown in Figure 14.
11
Figure 14: Changes in Commute Mode, 2015-2024
Q4 If you drive alone to work, which of the following sustainable commute modes are you
open to taking?
Note that respondents could choose more than one option, and only respondents who said
their main commute mode was by single-occupancy vehicle were given this question.
Figure 15: Sustainable Commute Options Drivers Considering
12
Many respondents were open to transit (46%), carpooling (22%), bicycling (17%), vanpooling
(9%), and walking (4%).
Q5. 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?
Figure 16: Live <1 Mile from Sustainable Transit Option
This question was included to determine the proximity of a transit option that runs directly to
Palo Alto.
Q6. If you live less than 5 miles from work, are you open to switching to an active mobility
mode (bicycle, electric bicycle, scooter, electric scooter, or other personal mobility device) for
commuting?
Figure 17: Live <5 Miles from Work and Open to Active Commute
13
Thirty percent of respondents are open to an active commute.
Q7. What is most important to you when choosing how to commute to work? (select up to 3)
Figure 18: Most Important Considerations When Choosing How to Commute
Travel time and schedule predominates the list of factors workers consider when deciding
how to commute.
Q8. Does your workplace need additional bike racks outside?
Figure 19: Need Additional Bike Racks
14
This information provides an opportunity for follow-up with organizations surveyed.
Q9. What is your annual salary?
Figure 20: Is Your Annual Salary Less Than $70,000 or More?
Figure 20 shows the percentage of respondents making less than $70,000/year who are
eligible for PATMA’s free transit passes, refurbished bicycles, and after hour Lyft credits.
Q10. Are there any issues or concerns you would like to share about your commute?
The answers to this open-ended question provide PATMA with insights to improve our
programs, accomplish more mode shift, or share questions and concerns with our contacts at
tech companies and City government.
Compliments and positive statements included:
• I am excited about new Caltrain trains.
• Very hard to get my bike on old trains. Like the new schedule too!!
• I love the ability to combine bicycling and Caltrain and not rely at all on an automobile.
And I am impressed by how the City of Palo Alto encourages and supports that.
• Being a part of the program really reduces my stress of commuting to work. I don’t drive
because it will cost me too much money to drive back and forth versus taking the train.
• This has saved me money and time in traffic.
• It has saved my job and life. I’m so thankful for this service. I would love more stops at
my Caltrain station.
15
• No issues! Happy with Caltrain.
• Estoy muy contenta con el servicio de PATMA. Gracias. (I’m very happy with PATMA’s
service. Thank you.)
• Es seguro y siempre llego temprano a mi trabajo. (It’s safe and I always arrive early to
work.)
• Me gusta viajar en el Caltrain porque es comodo, llego a tiempo a mi trabajo, etc. (I like
to travel on Caltrain because it’s comfortable, I arrive on time to work, etc.)
• I like the VTA and Caltrain options.
• Bike lanes have improved throughout the Peninsula. Thank you!!!
• Biking to Downtown is the best!
• I love the train and really appreciate the Caltrain GoPass.
Concerns raised multiple times by respondents were grouped by topic in Figure 21.
Figure 21: Respondent Concerns About Their Commute
Topic # of Workers
Mentioning
Topic
Example Comment
Difficulties while driving:
traffic, parking, cost of gas
and tolls, road surface
quality
73 “The afternoon commute has doubled in time
in the last 1-2 years from 1 hour 10 min to 2
hours 15-20 mins.”
Timeliness of trains and
buses: late, infrequent
service, not reliable
31 “Just buses being on time, especially in the
morning hours.”
Limited or no transit
options near home (East
Bay, Tri-Valley, Los Gatos,
Gilroy) or work
20 “I wish there were a reliable, quick public
transit option from the East Bay” and “Caltrain
stops infrequently in South Counties.”
Caltrain passes for City
workers who don’t work
Downtown
12 “I would take the train if it was offered since I
can bike easily to and from the train.”
Connectivity too difficult:
to and from transit, making
connections between
transit options
11 “The first 5 miles and the last 5 miles are the
biggest barrier for public transportation.”
Safety and cleanliness of
transit and stations
9 “The station needs to be only for people that
use it to commute to take the bus or train.”
Want more transit service:
earlier, later, weekends
8 “Wish Caltrain stopped at the Blossom Hill
station in San Jose more frequently in general,
but on weekends specifically.”
16
Topic # of Workers
Mentioning
Topic
Example Comment
Feel can do their job from
home most of the time
7 “I can do my job well from home and would
use the extra 2 hours a day to do more work if
could work from home every day.”
Would like electric vehicle
charging for City workers -
MSC and Elwell
6 “There are no charging stations at our yard
(MSC) and I believe I have the only all electric
vanpool running for the City.”
Wish could afford a home
closer to work
4 “My commute is very long but my husband is
a disabled veteran. The city we live in is the
only place we can live for accessibility reasons
and afford.”
Would like showers to
wash up after biking
3 “There are no showers for staff at my
workplace so biking isn't an option.”
Other concerns mentioned:
• I can’t be late for work: “I work as a dental hygienist and have patients” or “my
manager expects a timely arrival for my shift.”
• Public transit is difficult to navigate, so I drive. Nobody is at the train stations to help
when you are new to it. I worry about problems at the last minute. Like funds not
applied to Clipper card etc.
• Clipper cards should cover Caltrain and buses in case one is running late I can take the
other.
• As a single parent working an hour away from home, I have to be able to get to my
kiddo fast in case of an emergency.
• Better lights for nighttime commuters.
• Neighborhoods should be zoned for multi-use so there would be less sprawl and more
housing.
Comments about bicycling:
• Would like more visible and separated bike lanes. (3)
• Unsafe drivers
o Palo Alto really needs to ban Right Turn on Red in Downtown Palo Alto. Drivers
accelerate to red lights - it's terrible for pedestrians. At least do this for a 2
block radius around the Caltrain Station.
o Cars that run the red lights at the intersection of Lytton and High Street in Palo
Alto in particular but all along University and Lytton is an issue.
o Cars run red lights which is dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.
o I almost get right hooked every day I ride my bike in to work. It’s terrifying
sometimes.
17
• The nearest train station is very far away and there is no secondary transit to close the
gap. No buses, no bike or scooter rental etc. (Midtown)
• There is one bike rack, but it is blocking a convenient access point for handicapped
people getting out of their cars.
• Bike theft (4)
o There are people who will steal bikes in downtown Palo Alto.
o Lots of bike theft in Palo Alto, so outdoor bike rack not optimal. (Downtown)
o Need bike boxes. We have racks but I won't use. Had locked bike stolen from
racks. I bring my bike inside. (retail on University Ave)
o Bikes are still getting stolen and I would like greater protection for bike racks.
Key Insights
The following insights gleaned from data and comments lead PATMA to believe that additional mode
shift opportunities exist among workers in Palo Alto.
• PATMA conducted the 2024 commute survey in an expanded geographic area this year with a
larger worker population compared to previous years.
• The survey had more participation from workers in the government and technology sectors
this year than last.
• This year, the average drive alone commute rate is higher (62%) than last year (56%).
• Light office (77%) and government sector (72%) sectors have higher drive alone rates than
service (55%) and tech (55%) sectors.
• Gathering responses from service sector workers in restaurants, retail and accommodations
was more time-consuming than government and tech sectors where managers took a more
active role encouraging staff to participate. Service sector businesses required multiple visits
to realize results.
• Seventy percent (70%) of survey respondents live in a city served by Caltrain or a bus that runs
directly to Palo Alto.
• Two percent (2%) of respondents are super commuters coming from outside of the Bay Area
(17 out of 885 responses).
• Among people who drive alone to work:
o 46% are open to taking transit
o 22% are open to carpool
o 17% are open to active mobility (bicycle or e-scooter)
o 9% are open to vanpool
o 4% are open to walking
• Sixteen percent (16%) live less than 5 miles from work and are open to an active commute
(bike or e-scooter).
• When deciding how to travel to work, 72% of respondents cite travel time or schedule as the
most important consideration.
These insights point to potential for workers to switch from driving alone to transit, carpooling, active
mobility, vanpool, or walking, particularly among light office and government workers.
18
Conclusions
Given the openness of respondents to sustainable commute modes and the proximity of their
home or workplace to transit options, 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 refurbished bikes, electric bikes, and
electric scooters to connect to transit or 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, such as Bike Love rewards, would provide an additional nudge toward a more
sustainable commute.