The document summarizes a regional transportation demand management (TDM) program in the San Francisco Bay Area. It describes the region's growth in population and vehicle miles traveled since the 1950s. It also outlines the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's responsibilities and the program's goals of improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. The program requires large employers to offer commuter benefits like pre-tax transit passes or vanpool subsidies. It provides options and guidelines for employers to comply in order to shift commuters from single-occupancy driving to other modes of transportation.

1. Building a Regional TDM Program
David Burch, Principal Environmental Planner
Jackie Winkel, Environmental Planner

2. San Francisco Bay Area
• 9 Counties, 101 cities
• > 7 million people
• Pleasant climate
• Scenic beauty
• Strong environmental ethic
• Robust economy
• Transportation & housing challenges
- expensive housing
- long commutes
- access to transit varies
Nine County Jurisdiction
Surrounding the SF Bay

3. Bay Area AQMD
• 22-member governing board
• First regional AQ agency in US (1955)
- Pollution moves around
- Consistent rules & requirements
• Our mission:
- Attain air quality standards
- Protect public health
- Reduce GHG emissions to protect the climate

4. Air District Responsibilities
Air
Monitoring Public
Outreach
Grants &
Incentives
Rules &
Permitting

5. Air Quality Planning
• Pollution control strategy
- Stationary sources
- Stringent motor vehicle
emissions stds: CA ARB
- Reduce motor vehicle use
• Made major progress in
improving air quality
• But we need to reduce
emissions from transportation

6. San Francisco Bay Area
1955
• 3 million people
• 1.7 million cars
• 35 million vehicle miles
driven daily
2013
• > 7 million people
• 5.3 million cars
• > 170 million vehicle miles driven
daily
• 2nd highest congestion nationwide

7. Air Pollution from Transportation Sector
Residential Fuel
Usage
7%
Electricity / Co-
Generation
17% Off-Road
Equipment
3%
Agriculture /
Farming
1%
Industrial /
Commercial
34%
Transportation 38%
Transportation is the largest source of GHG emissions
in the Bay Area (2012)

8. The Role of Commuter Trips
Weekday commute trips account for a major share of
personal motor vehicle miles traveled (2010)
Work-Based
4%
Commute
53%
School
6%
Social
(recreation, dining
out, etc.)
11%
Shopping
10%
Other
16%

9. Bay Area Commute Mode Split
Two-thirds of Bay Area commuters drive to work alone
Drive
Alone
68%
Carpool/Vanpool
11%
Transit
10%
Walk
3%
Bike
1%
Other
1%
Work at home
6%

10. Bay Area Commuter Benefit Program
• Modeled on San Francisco commuter benefit ordinance
• Developed pursuant to Senate Bill 1339 (enacted 2012)
– Authorized the Air District and MTC (the regional
transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency)
to jointly adopt a regional commuter benefits ordinance
• Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program
– New Regulation 14, Rule 1 serves as foundation for Program
– Rec’d input from business community via outreach process
• Pilot program: 2014-2016
• Report to Legislature due by July 2016

11. Goals & Objectives
• Improve air quality
• Decrease greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduce traffic congestion – less time wasted
• Expand the use of commuter tax benefits
– Employers save $$$
– Employees save $$$
– More $$$ stay in the Bay Area, helps economy
• Minimize red-tape, easy for employers to comply

12. Four Commuter Benefit Options
• Option 1: Pre-tax payroll deduction for transit or vanpool
– Up to maximum allowed by IRS (currently $130 per month)
– Employers save $ on payroll taxes
– Employees save $ on transit/vanpool fares
• Option 2: Direct subsidy for transit or vanpool
- Maximum subsidy required is $75 per month
• Option 3: Employer-provided transportation
- Bus, shuttle, vanpool
• Option 4: Alternative commuter benefit
There are no performance standards or targets

13. Option 4: Alternative Commuter Benefit
• Good option in areas with limited transit service
• Provides flexibility for employers
• Promote alternative commute modes such as carpooling,
bicycling, walking

14. Option 4: Examples

15. Who Needs to Comply?
Employers with 50+ full-time employees
in the Bay Area
 Private Businesses
 Public agency
 Non-profit organization
Count based on all Bay Area
worksites combined
 Including branch locations
with less than 50 employees
10
20
25

16. Program Requirements

17. Program Implementation
Air District:
• Develop rule & guidelines to complement the rule
• Compliance verification/enforcement
MTC/ Regional Rideshare Program
• Develop registration process and employer database
• Employer assistance info on
– Employer Guide, FAQ’s, Video tutorials
– Presentations to employer groups, TMA’s, vendors
– One-on-one assistance

18. Coordination with Local Cities
• Local cities: San Francisco, Berkeley, Richmond
• Businesses with 50+ employees in the Bay Area
report to the Air District and MTC
• Businesses with <50 employees that are located in
cities with local ordinances report to the local city
(example: in SF employers with 20-49 employees
report to San Francisco)

19. Implementation Timetable
• Regulation applies to ~ 10,000 employers with >
25,000 worksites in Bay Area
– ~60% of total Bay Area workforce
• This new regulation is now in effect
– Adopted by Air District Board & ratified by MTC Commission
in March 2014
• Due date to register: September 30th (6 months)

20. Registration Results to Date
Option 1
84%
Option 2
10%
Option 3
3%
Option 4
3%

21. Who Will Benefit?
• Employers
– Save $$ on payroll taxes
– Enhanced benefit package
• Employees
– Save $$ on transit/vanpool
– More options, less commute stress
• Bay Area
– Improve air quality
– Reduce GHG emissions
– Increase transit use
– Reduce traffic congestion
– More $$ stay in Bay Area

22. Go to 511.org, click on
Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program
Contact: commuterbenefits@511.org
www.baaqmd.gov/commuterbenefits
For Additional Information

23. Option 4: Menu of Measures
Option 4A: Choose one primary & two secondary measures
Option 4B: Choose four secondary measures
PRIMARY MEASURES SECONDARY MEASURES
Carpool Subsidy ($3/day) Employer-specific carpool match service (free)
Bicycle Subsidy ($20/month) Guaranteed Ride Home program (free)
Telework Program Preferred parking for carpools
Compressed Work-Week Secure, on-site bicycle parking
Parking Cash-Out Showers/lockers for bicyclists/walkers
Electric Vehicle Implementation Employer-sponsored Bike Share Program
Employee commuting “awards” program
On-site amenity (cafe, ATM, childcare, etc.)
Provide real-time commuting info
Lunchtime shuttle

24. Bay Area Ozone Trends
65
70
75
80
85
90
Ozone(ppb)
Ozone 8-hr Design Value: SF Bay Area
2000-2002 to 2011-2013
National Standard

25. Bay Area PM2.5 Trends
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2000-02 2001-03 2002-04 2003-05 2004-06 2005-07 2006-08 2007-09 2008-10 2009-11 2010-12 2011-13
PM2.5(ug/m3)
Bay Area PM2.5 Design Value*
*The Bay Area design value is the PM2.5 that is compared with the national PM2.5 standard to determine whether it meets the
standard. The Bay Area has met the standard for the past 4 years.
national standard

26. Who Qualifies as an Employee?
• Employee: Anyone who receives a W-2 form for
tax purposes
• Full-time employees: Employees who work at least
30 hours per week (excluding seasonal/temporary and
field employees).
• Covered employees: Employees must offer the
commuter benefit to all “covered employees” who
work at least 20 hours per week.

27. Seasonal/Temporary & Field Employees
Exemptions:
• Seasonal/temporary employees: employees who work
120 days per year or less are exempt from the
employee definition
• Field employees: employees who do not report to a
permanent worksite are also exempt (per 6/12/14
Compliance Advisory)
When these exemptions are applied for the purpose of
counting the number of full-time employees, some
employers may not be subject to the rule.

28. Potential Savings
Option 1: By allowing use of pre-tax $$ for transit & vanpool
-Employers: can save ~8% (or more) in payroll tax savings
-Employees: can save on average 40% (or more) on their
(after-tax) commute costs
=
$625/year in
savings to employee
$125/year in savings
to employer
&
$1,560
ANNUAL
COMMUTE
COSTS
$130/MONTH
TRANSIT OR
VANPOOL FARE