The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 introduced a potential game-changer. Section 736 of the legislation requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study transportation demand management (TDM) needs at U.S. airports. Upon completion, the study could dramatically transform the airport TDM compliance landscape at a national level.
Given the high impact potential, airport management teams will want to get ahead of possible changes that could follow from the study’s completion.
Scope and purpose of the upcoming GAO study
Under Section 736 of the FAA reauthorization law, the GAO must conduct an airport TDM strategy study by May 2026. Among other areas, the study must specifically look at ways to improve multimodal access to airports and best practices for airport TDM programs.
When the study is complete, the Comptroller General of the United States will report the results to Congress to inform additional airport TDM policymaking.
How might the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 change airport TDM?
The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) specifically lobbied for the Section 736 provisions, describing the outcome as a policy victory. Depending on the study’s outcome, airports could be required to implement TDM programs for site personnel, airline employees, and passengers in order to qualify for federal funding.
Connect with an affordable and scalable airport TDM solution
TDM industry insiders widely believe the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 will drive significant investment in airport transportation efficiency and sustainability. The ACT will liaise with the GAO in devising and developing the study, which increases the likelihood of positive outcomes with respect to sustainable airport TDM requirements.
With U.S. airports directly supporting an estimated 9.6 million jobs, changing TDM requirements could have a profound impact. For a glimpse of what’s to come, consider the sustainable transportation program already adopted by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). Key features of the LAWA airport TDM program include:
- Vanpool fleets and carpool programs for airport and airline employees
- Microtransit and charter bus services for local passengers
- Traffic diversion strategies to reduce parking demand
Specialized TDM program management and user engagement solutions can maximize the impact of these strategies by providing every commuter with personalized support, no matter their employer, worksite or status. The RideAmigos CommuteHub platform delivers comprehensive mobility solutions at scale, providing personalized support to commuters and equipping program managers with complete, cutting-edge TDM administration solutions and advanced analytics features.
Get started with CommuteHub by scheduling a free demo of our one-stop shop for employee transportation and parking management.
