Arlington’s Experience with Carsharing & Expanding Travel Choice

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Part I – Arlington Development & Transportation Context

Part II – Arlington Carshare Program

Part III – Lessons Learned

Presentation Overview:Presentation Overview:

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Arlington, VirginiaArlington, Virginia

Located in the core of a the Located in the core of a the rapidly growing Washington rapidly growing Washington region, 6 million residents, 3 region, 6 million residents, 3 million jobs and 1,200 sq. million jobs and 1,200 sq. miles of urbanized area miles of urbanized area Arlington Arlington -- 26 sq. miles at the 26 sq. miles at the confluence of major regional confluence of major regional multimodal transportation multimodal transportation facilitiesfacilitiesRegion faced with Region faced with environmental and environmental and transportation challengestransportation challenges

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Arlington Development OverviewArlington Development Overview

40.6 million sq. ft. of office space, 35 million sq. ft. in Metr40.6 million sq. ft. of office space, 35 million sq. ft. in Metro station areas o station areas with 4 million sq. ft. of supporting retail & serviceswith 4 million sq. ft. of supporting retail & services95,000 housing units (over 35,000 in Metro station areas)95,000 housing units (over 35,000 in Metro station areas)Over 6,000 housing units and 3 million sq. ft. of commercial spaOver 6,000 housing units and 3 million sq. ft. of commercial space under ce under constructionconstructionAn additional 75,000 jobs and 50,000 residents projected by 2030An additional 75,000 jobs and 50,000 residents projected by 2030

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Transportation ConceptsTransportation Concepts

Focus community development Focus community development around transit and require around transit and require appropriate investments in appropriate investments in transportationtransportationEmphasize community walkEmphasize community walk--ability ability and bikeand bike--abilityabilityMaximize travel choice for residents, Maximize travel choice for residents, workers and visitorsworkers and visitorsProvide comprehensive and easy to Provide comprehensive and easy to access information about travel access information about travel optionsoptionsEmploy transportation demand Employ transportation demand management strategiesmanagement strategiesManage curbManage curb--space and parking space and parking efficientlyefficientlyEmphasize multiEmphasize multi--modal street modal street operationsoperations

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Transportation Facilities & Services Transportation Facilities & Services

1,094 lane1,094 lane--miles of primary and miles of primary and secondary streets and 19 lanesecondary streets and 19 lane--miles of HOV facilitiesmiles of HOV facilitiesOver 4,000 onOver 4,000 on--street metered street metered parking spacesparking spaces12 miles of Metrorail lines and 12 miles of Metrorail lines and 11 stations11 stationsVRE commuter railVRE commuter railExtensive regional (Metrobus) Extensive regional (Metrobus) and local bus (ART) service and local bus (ART) service And expanding carAnd expanding car--share share program with over 60 cars in program with over 60 cars in transit station areastransit station areas

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Transportation Facilities Transportation Facilities --Pedestrians & CyclistsPedestrians & Cyclists

34 miles of multi34 miles of multi--use trails, use trails, 21 miles of on21 miles of on--street lanes street lanes and 34 miles of marked and 34 miles of marked bike routesbike routesOver 2 miles of bike Over 2 miles of bike facilities added annuallyfacilities added annuallySidewalks on both sides of Sidewalks on both sides of primary streets and on one primary streets and on one side of most secondary side of most secondary streetsstreetsOver 2 miles of new Over 2 miles of new sidewalks added annuallysidewalks added annually

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TDM & Commuter Services TDM & Commuter Services --Expanding Travel OptionsExpanding Travel Options

Transportation demand Transportation demand management requirements management requirements for new site plan for new site plan development development Commuter services Commuter services program focused on program focused on information provision, sales information provision, sales and marketing via weband marketing via web--sites, direct mailings, ads, sites, direct mailings, ads, and inand in--person contactsperson contactsProgram reaches Program reaches employers with over employers with over 132,000 employees, 52,000 132,000 employees, 52,000 multimulti--family units and half of family units and half of the Countythe County’’s hotelss hotels

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TDM & Commuter Services TDM & Commuter Services --Expanding Travel OptionsExpanding Travel Options

Promotes all Promotes all alternatives to SOV alternatives to SOV traveltravelSupports Supports ““Air Quality Air Quality Action DaysAction Days”” programprogramServes as a laboratory Serves as a laboratory for new transportation for new transportation and information and information products and servicesproducts and servicesExpanding market Expanding market reach in Arlington and reach in Arlington and in the regionin the region

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Transportation System UsersTransportation System UsersResidents Residents –– Over 200,000 in 2006Over 200,000 in 2006–– 124,000 workers with 70% 124,000 workers with 70%

working outside the Countyworking outside the CountyEmployees commuting to Employees commuting to ArlingtonArlington--based jobs based jobs –– Over 160,000 workers commute Over 160,000 workers commute

into Arlington daily into Arlington daily Visitors Visitors –– 4 million plus visitors to Arlington 4 million plus visitors to Arlington

National CemeteryNational Cemetery–– Over 10,000 hotel rooms used as Over 10,000 hotel rooms used as

a base for visitors from outside a base for visitors from outside the regionthe region

–– Many daily visitors from adjacent Many daily visitors from adjacent jurisdictions jurisdictions

Through travelers & commutersThrough travelers & commuters

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Transportation System UseTransportation System Use> 4 million vehicle> 4 million vehicle--miles of miles of travel per day travel per day 211,000 Metrorail 211,000 Metrorail boardings/alightingsboardings/alightings (June (June 06)06)> 45,000 bus trips> 45,000 bus trips> 3,000 commuter rail > 3,000 commuter rail boardings/alightingsboardings/alightings> 3,000 car> 3,000 car--share membersshare members> 160,000 transit> 160,000 transit--related related walking tripswalking tripsIncreasing bike commute Increasing bike commute tripstripsIncreasing nonIncreasing non--transit transit walking and biking activitywalking and biking activity

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Part II: Arlington Part II: Arlington CarshareCarshare ProgramProgram

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Carsharing Services in DC regionCarsharing Services in DC regionTwo forTwo for--profit carsharing profit carsharing companiescompanies——Flexcar and Flexcar and ZipcarZipcar serving the region serving the region beginning in 2001. beginning in 2001. Focused on the regional core Focused on the regional core with the District of Columbia with the District of Columbia and Arlington having the lionand Arlington having the lion’’s s share of cars and membersshare of cars and membersOver 300 cars in service Over 300 cars in service Most successful in medium to Most successful in medium to high density mixedhigh density mixed--use transituse transit--oriented neighborhoodsoriented neighborhoodsOver 50 Metrorail stations Over 50 Metrorail stations have have carsharingcarsharing vehiclesvehicles

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Arlington Program MilestonesArlington Program MilestonesPrePre--Pilot Program Pilot Program -- 12 cars12 cars(2001 (2001 –– January 2004)January 2004)Pilot Carshare Program Pilot Carshare Program -- 24 cars 24 cars (Feb 04 (Feb 04 –– Feb 05)Feb 05)FirstFirst--Year Report (April 05)Year Report (April 05)Expanded Program Expanded Program -- 43 cars43 cars(May 05) (May 05) RiskRisk--sharing subsidies sharing subsidies discontinued (May 05)discontinued (May 05)Discounted membership Discounted membership discontinued (July 05)discontinued (July 05)Regional onRegional on--line survey of line survey of carsharecarshare members (March 06)members (March 06)Second Year Report (June 06)Second Year Report (June 06)Arlington Staff Pilot Program (July Arlington Staff Pilot Program (July 06)06)Expanded Fleet Expanded Fleet –– 70 cars 70 cars (November 06)(November 06)

Pilot Carshare Program

Expanded Carshare Program

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CarshareCarshare Program GoalsProgram Goals

Expand travel choice for Expand travel choice for residents and workers residents and workers Influence travel behavior Influence travel behavior ––encourage all alternatives to encourage all alternatives to SOV travelSOV travelProvide a viable alternative Provide a viable alternative to auto ownershipto auto ownershipReduce the demand of Reduce the demand of expensive structured parking expensive structured parking (long term)(long term)

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CarshareCarshare Program ElementsProgram ElementsExpand the fleet in ArlingtonExpand the fleet in ArlingtonProvide revenue guaranteesProvide revenue guaranteesCreate onCreate on--street visibilitystreet visibilityProvide membership Provide membership discountsdiscountsPromotional efforts Promotional efforts --–– Brochure, Postcards, Brochure, Postcards,

InsertsInsertsInitiate Arlington staff pilotInitiate Arlington staff pilotContinue program surveys Continue program surveys and researchand research

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CarshareCarshare Program EvaluationProgram Evaluation2005 & 2006 2005 & 2006

CarshareCarshare Program results Program results –– No. of carsNo. of cars–– No. of membersNo. of members–– Usage (per Month)Usage (per Month)

Pilot Carshare Program Pilot Carshare Program survey survey –– Survey of Survey of FlexcarFlexcar & &

ZipcarZipcar members in members in March 2005 and 2006March 2005 and 2006

CarsharingCarsharing researchresearch–– Best practices research Best practices research

incl. TRB studyincl. TRB study

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CarshareCarshare Program GrowthProgram Growth

Before 1st Year Pilot

2nd Year Pilot Current

Program

Nov 06

70

3,150

Feb-04 March 05 March 06

No. of Cars 12 27 43

No. of Carshare Memberships 1,180 2,546 3,490

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CarshareCarshare Program Survey FindingsProgram Survey Findings

Over 80% of Arlington Over 80% of Arlington Carshare Members Rate Carshare Members Rate Service ExcellentService Excellent

76% of Carsharing Members 76% of Carsharing Members Feel Safer with Carshare Feel Safer with Carshare Vehicles Parked OnVehicles Parked On--StreetStreet

85% of Arlington Members 85% of Arlington Members More Confident Knowing More Confident Knowing Arlington is Carshare PartnerArlington is Carshare Partner

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Arlington Arlington CarshareCarshare Survey FindingsSurvey Findings

The Carsharing Program Encourages TransitThe Carsharing Program Encourages Transit--OrientedOriented--Living:Living:–– 47% agree they use transit more often47% agree they use transit more often–– 47% agree they walk more often47% agree they walk more often–– 65% agree they save money on transportation65% agree they save money on transportation–– 71% agree they have postponed buying a car 71% agree they have postponed buying a car

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Carshare Research & Survey Findings Carshare Research & Survey Findings

The Pilot Carshare The Pilot Carshare Program Makes Efficient Program Makes Efficient Use of Parking Use of Parking

Arlington Carshare Arlington Carshare Members Reduce Car Members Reduce Car OwnershipOwnership

Arlington Carsharing Arlington Carsharing Members Reduce VehicleMembers Reduce Vehicle--Miles Traveled (amounts Miles Traveled (amounts to millions of VMT reduced to millions of VMT reduced or avoided each year)or avoided each year)

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Part III: Five Lessons LearnedPart III: Five Lessons Learned

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1. Providing carsharing with on1. Providing carsharing with on--street visibility street visibility was a major factor in program expansionwas a major factor in program expansion

Raises the profile of carsharingRaises the profile of carsharingEnhances convenience of the serviceEnhances convenience of the serviceImproves perceptions of safety of the membersImproves perceptions of safety of the members

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2. Public2. Public--Private Partnership Fostered Private Partnership Fostered CarsharingCarsharing Expansion/Market Acceptance Expansion/Market Acceptance

County investment 2004County investment 2004--2006:2006:–– Revenue guaranteesRevenue guarantees–– OnOn--street locationsstreet locations–– Membership discountsMembership discounts–– Promotional efforts Promotional efforts --–– Brochure, Postcards, Brochure, Postcards,

InsertsInserts–– County government staff County government staff

pilotpilotCarsharingCarsharing companies:companies:–– Expanded fleet from 12 to Expanded fleet from 12 to

70 vehicles70 vehicles–– Expanded membership Expanded membership

from 1,180 to over 3,000from 1,180 to over 3,000

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3. Carsharing provides auto3. Carsharing provides auto--mobility mobility without impacts of car ownershipwithout impacts of car ownership

Findings support the popular belief that carsharing fills a Findings support the popular belief that carsharing fills a missing link (car guarantee) in the transportation infrastructurmissing link (car guarantee) in the transportation infrastructure e so that many urban dwellers, suburban commuters and so that many urban dwellers, suburban commuters and visitors can keep using alternatives to the privatelyvisitors can keep using alternatives to the privately--owned owned automobile.automobile.

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4. Carsharing is an valid TDM strategy 4. Carsharing is an valid TDM strategy that complements other strategiesthat complements other strategies

Carsharing Program in the Arlington Context:Carsharing Program in the Arlington Context:Further expands travel choice for both Further expands travel choice for both residents and workers residents and workers Complements other Arlington transportation Complements other Arlington transportation strategiesstrategiesResulted in evidence of the following:Resulted in evidence of the following:

–– Increase transit ridership,Increase transit ridership,–– Reduce car ownership, Reduce car ownership, –– Reduce demand for parking,Reduce demand for parking,–– Reduce the number of cars on the road, Reduce the number of cars on the road, –– Reduce the number of vehicleReduce the number of vehicle--miles travelmiles travel

Lesson learned: it is possible to reduce Lesson learned: it is possible to reduce reliance on car use and ownership with reliance on car use and ownership with choices that still include the automobilechoices that still include the automobile

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Contact Information:Contact Information:

Dennis M. Leach, AICPDennis M. Leach, AICPDirector of TransportationDirector of TransportationArlington County Department of Environmental ServicesArlington County Department of Environmental ServicesDivision of TransportationDivision of Transportation703703--228228--05880588dleach@arlingtonva.usdleach@arlingtonva.us

Program Information: Program Information: www.commuterpage.com/carsharewww.commuterpage.com/carshare