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Mobility Monitoring – Travel Demand Management
OVERVIEW • REGIONAL TRENDS • ROADWAYS • INTERSECTIONS • TRANSIT
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN • HOV LANES • TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT • PARK-AND-RIDE
Travel demand management (TDM) programs enable roadways, which have a fixed capacity, to accommodate more travelers without increasing traffic congestion. TDM programs accomplish this by:
  • Encouraging ridesharing through the use of high-occupancy vehicles. By ridesharing (either in private vehicles such as cars or vans, or by using mass transit), more people can be transported using the existing transportation systems.
  • Encouraging travelers (particularly commuters) to consider—when possible for particular trips—either making the trip during off-peak (low-demand) time periods or entirely avoiding making the trip (for example, by telecommuting).
  • Supporting a travel mode shift to nonmotorized means of travel, such as bicycling and walking.
MassRIDES, a service of the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works (EOTPW), helps transportation management associations (TMAs), employers, and commuters to engage in TDM activities and alternative commute options, such as ridesharing. MassRIDES provides commute-planning assistance directly to commuters through its statewide commuter information line (1-888-4-COMMUTE). Commuters interested in alternatives to driving solo can receive a match-list from the statewide ridematching database (information on people with whom they may carpool or vanpool) or information on transit options. MassRIDES also helps commuters form vanpools, recruits drivers and riders, and coordinates third-party, company-sponsored, and/or owner-operated vanpool programs.

MassHighway and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority operate park-and-ride lots throughout the commonwealth. These lots are intended for use by commuters organizing carpools and vanpools. Many are conveniently located along major highways, and all-day parking is often free. Some of the lots are even serviced by private commuter-bus companies.