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Traffic Division
2500 NW 1st Avenue
Boca Raton, FL 33431
(561) 416-3374
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Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
The City of Boca Raton adopted a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance for the Downtown Area. The goal of this ordinance is to reduce peak period traffic and to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips by requiring the downtown businesses which employ more than 50 employees and residential developments with more than 30 units to implement a TDM plan. The TDM Plan would include such things as flex time, compressed work weeks, telecommuting, car pooling and van pooling, use of transit, walking and bike riding. It is a goal of the City of Boca Raton to eventually adopt a citywide ordinance and encourage all residents and businesses to participate in TDM.
If you have any questions concerning the Transportation Demand Management Program, please contact Joy Puerta at 561-416-3410 (email at jpuerta@myboca.us) or Lauren Finke at 561-416-3375 (email at FinkeLJ@pbworld.com).
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The City of Boca Raton has several requirements for new developments and existing developments within the Downtown to comply with the City's Transportation Demand Management Ordinance.
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The following are TDM strategies that could be implemented to satisfy the requirements of the TDM ordinance.
The TDM Plan should include a reasonable and effective combination of a variety of TDM strategies listed below. The TDM Plan shall be appropriate to the size, scale and location of the proposed development or use and shall demonstrate that reasonable and practicable actions will be taken in conjunction with and over the life of the development or use, which will produce a reduction in the traffic, and related impacts of the development or use.
- Shower and Locker Facilities. If this option is selected, this improvement should be included as part of the building package for a development project. As a guideline, shower and locker facilities should be provided on the minimum criteria. Gross square footage of shower and locker facilities shall be excluded from calculations of required off street parking. In addition, long term bicycle parking per guidelines in accordance with City Code of Ordinances Section 28-1655 should be provided with this option.
a) USE: Medical, Business, Professional, Governmental and Research Development Offices, Financial Institutions, Trade Schools, Colleges and Universities, Research and Development, Manufacturing and Industrial Uses or Special District Facilities designated for Employee Occupancy (educational facilities, etc.) shall provide one shower per gender for square footages 12,500 to 24,999, two showers per gender for square footages 25,000 to 49,999 and three showers per gender for square footages in excess of 50,000 square feet. Clothing lockers shall be provided at a rate of 3 lockers per required shower.
b) USE: Retail Stores, Service Agencies and Brokerage Firms, Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs and Automobile Services and Warehouse and Storage shall provide one shower per gender for square footages 37,500 to 74,999, two showers per gender for square footages 75,000 to 111,499 and three showers per gender for square footages in excess of 112,500 square feet. Clothing lockers shall be provided at a rate of 3 lockers per required shower.
Ride-sharing Incentive Programs. Activities to encourage and assist the formation of car pools, van pools and bus pools, such as payments or subsidies, preferential parking charges and parking space locations and other incentive programs to promote the sharing of rides.
Public Transit Incentive Programs. The provision of paratransit services to and from convenient public transit sites, such as a shuttle to and from the nearest Tri-Rail Station, to accommodate morning, midday, and evening excursions, the construction of transit shelters and amenities, the provision of transit fare media subsidies and marketing programs, and the provision of other similar incentive programs.
- Public Transit Improvements. Changes in service routes, increases in the frequency of service, the establishment of fare incentive programs and other significant measures designed to make public transit more accessible to the occupants of the proposed use.
- Car Pools. Procedures whereby designated car pool spaces are provided on-site which are restricted to car pool vehicles. Car pool spaces should be provided at a rate of 5 to 10 percent of the total motor vehicle parking required by the City Code of Ordinances or the Downtown Development of Regional Impact Development Order. These spaces shall be non-handicapped employee parking spaces located closest to the building entrance with signage identifying each space as car pool. The signage format used shall be in accordance with the South Florida Commuter Services standard. Procedures shall be included whereby the car pool vehicles are registered with the Employer TDM Coordinator for easy tracking and provide the ability to monitor on a daily basis which vehicles are pooling for annual reporting management procedures.
- Van Pools. Procedures whereby designated van pool spaces provided on site which are restricted to van pool vehicles. These spaces shall be non-handicapped employee parking spaces located closest to the building entrance with signage identifying each space as van pools. The signage format used shall be in accordance with the South Florida Commuter Service standard. Procedures shall be included whereby the van pool vehicles are registered with the Employer TDM Coordinator to keep track of the number of employees who van pool on a daily basis which shall be reported in the annual report.
- Bus Pools. If this option is selected this improvement should be included as part of the building package for a development project showing the location of a bus drop off area and bus pool spaces for parking away from the building after dropping individuals off. These spaces should be located furthest from the building and allow easy access to the bus drop off area for pick up and drop off convenience. The signage format used shall be in accordance with the South Florida Commuter Service standard. Procedures shall be included whereby the bus pool vehicles are registered with the Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) to keep track of the number of employees who bus pool on a daily basis which shall be reported in the annual report.
- Flex Time. Procedures shall include development of an office policy allowing employees the flexibility of starting work earlier or later, while still working a normal workday. Flex-time shall be tracked by the Employer TDM Coordinator who must maintain the number of employees participating and at what times they work.
- Telecommuting Programs. An office policy established allowing telecommuting or satellite office use. The Employer TDM Coordinator must keep track of which employees participate in this program and how often they participate in telecommuting. This timetable must include the days and hours telecommuting occurs. In addition to the office's policy, the annual report shall provide a list of all equipment made available to employees including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machine, computers, video conferencing equipment, office supplies and furniture.
- Compressed Work Week. An office policy allowing the entire work force or fraction of the work force to work less than a 5-day work week. For example: a weekly schedule where employees work four 10- hour days.
- Kiosks. The Employer TDM Coordinator must provide an area in plain view, such as a building lobby, which displays information on TDM including, but not limited to, car pool/van pool information, bus and train schedules and employer program information. In addition, a computer terminal should be made available with internet access which allows trip planning, access to available radio, TV and other media that provide updates on traffic conditions and weather.
- Shuttle Services. Support and participate in a shuttle service when one is made available serving the nearest Tri-Rail station, operating during the work day.
- Alternative Options. Any other technique or combination of techniques capable of reducing single occupancy vehicle trips and other related impacts of the proposed use as determined appropriate by the City Council or, where appropriate, the Community Redevelopment Agency.
- Grouped Options. The following grouped options are suggestions for developing a TDM Plan. These grouped options are illustrative only, and need not be selected as the options for any TDM Plan. It is not necessary to choose any of these groupings if they do not meet the needs of a particular site.
a) Carpool - add signs and develop program
b) Public Transit Improvement - build bus shelter and redirect bus service
c) Kiosks - provide TDM information
d) Compressed Work Week - 4 day work week
e) Kiosks - provide TDM information
f) Car pool - add signs and develop program
g) Flextime - allow employees a range of time arrivals and departures to work outside peak period
h) Transit incentives - provide employees transit passes or reduced rate passes
i) Shower and Lockers - Build shower and lockers
j) Van Pool - add signs and develop a program |
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The TDM Ordinance sets certain requirements for Downtown Developments, which accommodate fifty (50) or more full time employees or contain more than thirty (30) residential units.
Developments approved after October 22, 2002 shall:
- Design driveways and parking areas to accommodate the use of vans and shuttle buses.
- Provide a bus shelter or transit/bus pickup facility if the Development has frontage on any transit route unless the developer can demonstrate that a suitable facility is already available within 600 feet of the property on which the Development is located.
- Provide reserved priority employee parking spaces for qualifying multiple occupant vehicles.
- Provide facilities for the posting of TDM Program information in the location within the Development that is readily visible to employees.
- Provide sheltered, secure facilities for storage of bicycles in accordance with numerical requirements of Section 28-1655 Code of Ordinances. Sheltered, secured facilities for the storage of bicycles shall mean an area that is covered and provides security by means of a locked gate or door or provides and area that is monitored to assure no theft or damage occurs to the bicycles.
- Designate an individual to act as the Development TDM Program Coordinator. This person will be the contact person between the Development and the City and shall monitor all TDM Program activities for the Development, disseminate information and act as a resource of information for employees.
Existing Developments approved on or before October 22, 2002 and Developments approved after October 22, 2002 shall by October 22, 2004:
- Provide facilities for the posting of TDM Program information in the location of the existing development that is readily visible to employees or, in the case of development approved after October 22, 2002, continue to provide such facilities.
- Provide or cause to be provided on-site availability of public transit tickets for one or more of the existing public transit providers.
- Ensure the availability of meaningful incentives to the employees in the development or existing development who make work trips by modes of transportation other than single occupant automobiles.
- Provide a Transportation Demand Management Plan to the City describing in detail the TDM Program for the Development or Existing Development that has been implemented.
- Designate an individual to act as the TDM Program Coordinator or, in the case of Development approved after October 22, 2002, continue to designate such Coordinator. This person will be the contact person between the Development or Existing Development and the City and shall monitor all TDM Program activities for the Development, disseminate information and act as a resource of information for employees.
- Participate in, and implement, a TDM Program.
By October 22, 2007, or within 5 years of the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy, whichever is later:
- Make commuter van service available to all employees in the Development or Existing Development at the expense of the employer or employee.
- Link to TDM Ordinance
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Welcome to the Way2Go Boca section of the City of Boca Raton web site. Here you can learn about the Way2Go program or you can obtain information on alternative modes of transportation available to you near where you live. If you already know you'd like to ride your bike, take a bus, ride a train, or take a shuttle then just click and you'll find maps, routing information and guidance on how to use that mode.
The City of Boca Raton Traffic Division administers this program. Joy Puerta is the primary contact and can be reached at 561-416-3410 or via email at jpuerta@myboca.us or Lauren Finke at 561 416-3375 (email at FinkeLJ@pbworld.com). Alternative transportation is one of the City's top priorities. The City is encouraging the use of alternative transportation modes including walking, biking and the use of shuttles, buses and trains as important components of efforts to reduce the noise and pollution associated with traffic congestion and to increase safety for all who use our City streets.

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What is the Way2Go program?
This program is designed to address the City's priority to increase the use of alternative forms of transportation. The unique identity of the program will be used to raise awareness of alternative forms of transportation. Resource materials are being created and will be provided to employers, schools and families. These materials will encourage people to make smarter transportation choices - so they can save money and make Boca Raton more livable, just as they do now with recycling and water conservation. These materials will provide information for experimenting with other forms of transportation other than the automobile. They will encourage alternative transportation modes like bicycling, walking, carpooling and the use of public transportation into the everyday commute of those who live, work and/or shop in Boca Raton.
About 40% of all trips are shorter than 2 miles - a 10-minute bike ride or 30-minute walk. We know that approximately 76% or more of all automobile trips - including 50% during peak hours - are for personal and family purposes rather than traveling to and from work. Encouraging people to drive less for these trips can improve neighborhood traffic conditions.
Our objective is to increase the number of people in Boca Raton to use alterative transportation, so that any visitor, resident or employee experiences the City as a place where the use of alternative transportation is the norm.
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Why is the City of Boca Raton implementing the Way2Go program?
The City has set alterative transportation as a high priority and is implementing the Way2Go Boca program because increasing amounts of traffic, traffic congestion and the associated noise, pollution and conflicts with school children, other pedestrians and bicyclists may be adversely affecting the quality of life in Boca Raton. Further, the Traffic/Special Projects Division understands that perceptions of congestion and lack of safety worsen the problem by causing people to drive their children to school, drive to work and drive to the store when they otherwise might walk, bike or use transit or allow their children to do so.
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How will the Way2Go program be administered?
The City of Boca Raton Traffic Division will administer the Way2Go program. Primary contact will be Joy Puerta at 561-416-3410 or via email at jpuerta@myboca.us. Ms. Puerta will be initiating contact with several employers, both large and small to volunteer with pilot programs.
A car uses 1,860 fuel calories to travel a mile - a bike uses 35.
The program is designed to encourage experimentation and promoting the use of alternative modes of transportation. Our goal with Way2Go is to set the stage, encourage experimentation, explore ways the City can reduce barriers, and generally, to take a strong position on all street users, in favor of alternative transportation modes.
100 bicycles can be built for the energy and materials it takes to build 1 medium sized car.
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