Cool Springs Multimodal Transportation Study JUN_2015_Final Cool_Springs_Report | Page 31

Transportation Demand Strategies
Promoting and Facilitating Ridesharing beyond Vanpool
Carpooling is a commuter option that can be utilized by commuters regardless of commute distance, number of
potential commuters to a group or the complexity of the work schedule. Currently, the VanStar ridematching
online platform, powered by the software Trapeze, is framed entirely around the process of forming groups
for the purpose of vanpooling. The TMA Group could, at a minimum, design the messaging of The TMA Group
website to encourage commuters to utilize the software for forming carpools or vanpools. A November 2014
breakdown of the 190 pools available on the VanStar portal showed that only 57 were running (30%) which
leaves a large number of commuters listed as “starting up.” The inclusion of carpooling as a promoted mode
would give The TMA Group the opportunity to begin the mode-shift among these groups, (even if a van is not yet
feasible), collect VMT (vehicles mile traveled) data as well as potentially identify both commuter and employer
champions.
In 2011 1 , 43% of the 29,535 primary jobs in the Cool
Springs study area had the commute originate
in one of ten zip code locations. With the role of
health care as a major employment sector and over
10,000 retail sector jobs, the realities of flexible and
fluid work schedules provide an opportunity for
carpooling. Carpooling addresses the commuting
needs of employees who may only be able to share
the ride a limited number of days per month or who
could become a member of multiple carpool groups
depending on work schedule coordination.
Vanstar Vanpool Vehicles
  Source: 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-
Destination Statistics (LODES)
1
Expanded Emergency Ride Home Program
Currently the Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program, offered through The TMA Group, is only available to full-
time VanStar vanpool riders. Expanding this benefit beyond vanpooling to include modes such as carpooling,
Franklin Transit Authority transit and even bicycling can encourage drivers of single-occupant vehicles
to consider shifting to another mode without the risk of not being able to get home due to illness, family
emergency, or an unscheduled work schedule change. Additionally, there would be opportunities to capture
data from the existing commuters using these modes as well as to cross-promote TDM services to an engaged
audience.
Broadening the user base of the ERH program may raise concerns regarding fraud or accountability. Steps can
be taken to mitigate against this including, but not limited to, offering taxi/rental car reimbursement instead
of vouchers, requiring employer participation or sign-off and/or requiring frequent re-enrollment into the
program. It is worth noting that the Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA) offers an
Emergency Ride Home program to carpool, vanpool or transit users with otherwise similar parameters as The
TMA Group’s ERH Program and may be a model.
Cool Springs | Multimodal Transportation Network Study
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