Transportation demand management (TDM) is poised to become a hot topic at U.S. airports. Section 736 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a study into airport TDM requirements no later than May 2026. The study holds the potential to completely transform the airport employee TDM compliance landscape.
In this post, we’ll look at what the study will cover, how it could impact airports, and how airport management can prepare for the changes that might be coming.
What will the GAO study?
Under Section 736 requirements, the GAO airport TDM study must cover the following considerations:
- Whether airports should consider TDM when planning infrastructure and construction projects
- How TDM strategies might affect multimodal transportation options already in place at the nation’s airports
- How airport TDM programs could improve airport access for airport personnel, airline employees, passengers, and visitors
Notably, the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) will actively participate in the study’s design. The ACT specifically lobbied for the Section 736 requirements to be added to the FAA Reauthorization Act.
How might the study affect the airport employee TDM landscape?
ACT’s vision and mission focuses on advocating for better commuter solutions through TDM policy. Their involvement in the GAO study design strongly suggests that the final report will call for an expansion of airport TDM solutions for employees (both air-side and land-side), passengers, and other user classes.
One possible outcome could see new compliance requirements tying the availability of airport employee TDM programs to federal funding. Such a development would essentially force airports to develop and introduce responsive TDM programs focused on improving the efficiency and performance of multimodal airport access.
Getting ahead of possible changes in airport employee TDM requirements
Forward-looking airport management teams are already taking action. In 2024, Denver International Airport unveiled the results of an internal TDM study, identifying a goal of reducing the airport-bound drive-alone rate by 10% through accessibility improvements. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has already implemented a LAWA Mobility program, which offers a potentially helpful blueprint for other airports given L.A.’s status as one of the most car-centric cities in the United States.
Some ideas that could help improve workplace access for airport employees include:
Vanpools
Many airports — especially those in major cities — are situated in outlying areas with limited public transportation access. Sure, municipal transit might technically serve the airport, but is it feasible for an airport employee to depend on it every day? If not, a vanpool program might be the ideal solution.
Vanpools use van fleets to connect destinations like airports to major, more easily accessible transit hubs. They’re an efficient airport employee TDM solution that can make using public transportation a far more practical option.
Transit pass subsidies
Not all airports are located in public transportation dead zones. In these situations, airports can provide employees with no-cost or subsidized monthly or annual transit passes to incentivize the use of public services.
Employees win by saving on fuel, parking, and vehicle maintenance costs. Airports win by cutting down on drive-alone rates and parking demand. The environment wins through reduced traffic congestion and emissions.
Rideshare programs
TDM programs don’t have to focus exclusively on getting cars off the road. They can also work to reduce the number of drive-alone airport trips by incentivizing employee carpooling.
Some of the tools you can use to encourage carpooling include:
- Launching programs to match commuters with ridesharing partners
- Engaging commuters through rideshare challenge and gamification programs
- Offering appealing rewards and incentives to commuters who hit rideshare participation milestones
For deeper insights, consult this detailed article on strategies that encourage employee carpooling.
Local high-occupancy vehicle services
Airport employees — especially long-tenured ones — often live close to their workplace. For these commuters, local HOV shuttles can be a difference maker.
As an example, consider LAWA’s Iride Inglewood program. With more than 3,000 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) employees living in the nearby municipality of Inglewood, LAX saw value in using HOVs to deliver free, on-demand, point-to-point airport employee TDM services.
If you’re managing commuter programs for a large airport with many commuters living in the area, this solution is well worth considering. Iride Inglewood has generated very high adoption rates since its introduction.
Municipal microtransit solutions
Airport management can form solution-oriented partnerships with municipal public transit authorities to create microtransit networks that serve the airport.
For some inspiration, take a look at the Metro Micro service offered by L.A.’s Metro network. Metro Micro allows passengers to book low-cost, transfer-free rides to and from the airport using municipally operated vanpools. It’s safe, convenient, and efficient — and best of all, it dramatically improves airport access for the people who need it most.
CommuteHub is an ideal tool for managing airport employee TDM programs
All these ideas have one thing in common: they require specialized tools with advanced features for centralizing their management and tracking their results to reach their full potential. This is exactly what CommuteHub offers.
CommuteHub delivers performance capabilities that connect with airport employee TDM programs in powerful ways. These include:
- Rideshare matching features
- Built-in support for commuter gamification programs
- Tools for tracking and distributing incentives and rewards
- Advanced analytics tools that deliver deep insights into TDM program performance
CommuteHub enables you to deliver and personalize these programs scalably to all types of employees, with a clean, user-friendly interface. Extend the reach of your airport employee TDM programs and put smarter, more sustainable commutes within the daily reach of your commuter base.
Get started below by scheduling a free demo of the CommuteHub platform.
