Transcript How Florida TMAs Measure Up: Comparisons with National

How Florida TMAs Measure Up:
Comparisons with National Averages
Presented at the:
Florida Commuter Choice Summit
December 11, 2003
Presented by:
Sara J. Hendricks, AICP
Senior Research Associate
Center for Urban Transportation Research
Presentation Background and Purpose
 What makes Florida TMAs different?
 Are differences strengths or
weaknesses?
 How should TMAs respond?
Florida TMAs
 Airport West TMI
 Better
Baymeadows, Inc.
 Downtown Ft.
Lauderdale TMA
 Downtown Miami
TMI
 Miami Beach TMA,
Inc.
 New North
Transportation
Alliance
 St. Petersburg
Downtown TMO
 Sarasota TMI
 South Florida
Education Center
TMA
 Tampa Downtown
TMO
 University/Alafaya
Corridor
Transportation
Association
 West Palm Beach
TMI
 Westshore Alliance
TMO
Membership Composition by %
Business
Government
Developers
Prop. owners
Individuals
Non-profits
Residential
Other
U.S.
1993
72
8
10
10
U.S. 2003 FL 2003
59
10
6
8
0
6
2
9
49
11
6
2
1
3
11
17
Size of Membership
Basis of Member
Definition
Number of
Members
Businesses/institutions
25
Board participants
20, 23
Stakeholders who share
cost of a service
14
Property owners within a
special services district
118
Joint membership with
parent organization
24,000
Those served by the TMA 40,000
Member Recruitment Methods
U.S.
1993
%
Contact from executive 74
director
Contact from board
25
director
Peer-to-peer
66
recruitment
U.S.
2003
%
FL
2003
#
69
6
52
6
42
5
Travel Markets Served
U.S.
1993
U.S. 2003
FL 2003
Commuters 45,800 49,100 (ave.)
20,000
(median)
82%
Students
-45%
20,000
(median)
5
Residents
--
40%
5
Visitors
--
29%
3
Other
--
5%
1
5
Eligibility for TMA Services
 7 Provide services to members
 5 Provide services to non-members
 1 Provides services to the general
public within the service area
Services Most Commonly
Provided
To Members
 Rideshare matching
 Vanpool services
 Promotional events
 Guaranteed ride home
 Promotional
materials/newsletters
To Non-Members
 Guaranteed Ride
Home
 Vanpool Services
 Promotional Events
Services Provided by Some
To Members
 Tax benefit program
assistance
 Rideshare
incentives
 Regional/local
advocacy
 Telecommuting
program assistance
 Direct shuttle
service operation
 Bicycle program
To Non-Members
 Rideshare matching
 Promotional
materials/newsletter
 Tax benefit program
assistance
 ETC training
 Shuttle/local transit
provision
 Regional/local
advocacy
 Vanpool subsidy
program
Services Provided to Members
By Few or No TMAs
 ETC training
 Trip reduction plan
 Subsidized transit
preparation
 Parking Service
provision
 Parking pricing
and/or management
 Carshare program
passes
 Vanpool subsidy
program
 Site design
assistance
Services Listed as “Other”
 Intersection improvements
 Traffic calming through landscaping
 Sidewalk improvements
“Other” Services Listed Nationally
 Visitor services
 Relocation assistance
 Electric vehicle promotion
 Construction/traffic advisories
 Government reporting/compliance
 Alternative fuel infrastructure
development
 Walking program
“Other” Services Listed Nationally
 Cycling safety workshops
 Active living program
 Pedestrian amenity review
 Livable community camps for high
school students
 Spanish translated information
Program/Services Evaluation
 4 Survey commuter or other target
markets to assess mode shift
 3 Survey members to assess
satisfaction with TMA programs
 3 Survey commuters or other target
markets to assess satisfaction with
services
 1 Track calls/emails in response to
outreach activities
“Other” Evaluation Activities
 Surveys to assess market awareness
 Ridership surveys to identify customer
characteristics and satisfaction
 Track numbers of:
brochures/newsletters distributed
employers implementing program
employees participating
Staff Size and Characteristics
 Number of full time staff: 1-4
 Number of part time staff: 0-1
 No volunteers
 5 out of 8 TMAs hire consultants or
vendors for the direct provision of
services
Services Contracted Out
4 Shuttle/local transit
1 Ridematching
1 Vanpooling
1 Marketing
1 Fleet maintenance
1 Interim management
TMA Executive Director
Professional Background
 Transportation planning
 Number years with TMA: 6 mo. to 8 yrs
 Number years in TDM: 1-23 yrs
TMA Executive Director
Educational Background
 Median Salary: $50,000
 5/8 EDs have MBAs or masters degrees
 Most common educational
backgrounds:
– Business administration
– Public management
– Sales
– Marketing
Personnel Benefits
Most common benefits
– Paid holidays
– Medical, dental, vision insurance
– Seminars and professional member dues
– Free parking
Personnel Benefits
 Less common benefits
– Retirement plan
– Life insurance, family leave
– Disability insurance
– Tuition assistance
– Flexible spending account (Section 125)
Benefits Not Offered to TMA
Personnel
 Daycare
 Employee assistance program
 Subsidized transit passes
 Incentive or cash bonus
 Credit union membership
 Transportation allowance
TMA Staff Evaluation
 Half conduct staff evaluation
 Evaluations conducted by TMA staff and
board of directors rather than parent
organization
 Six TMAs have formal personnel
policies
TMA Budgets
 Largest line item: shuttles/local transit
50-85%
 Marketing and promotions
3-75%
 Office operations
5-50%
Income Sources
 7 Federal/State/local grants
 4 In-kind donations
 3 Member dues
 2 Service contracts
 1 Special services district
 1 Other private sector sources
No Florida TMAs Use These
Sources
 Fees for services
 Developer funding agreements
 Community financing districts
Average % of Total Income
 67% Federal grants
 23% State grants
 20% Local grants
 48% Service contracts
 18% In-kind donations
 16% Member dues
 25% Business improvement district
 3% Other
Accounting Practices
 4 Have annual audits of financial
records
 4 Provide annual financial statement
 3 Use cash method of accounting
 2 Use accrual method of accounting
 1 Uses a combination of accrual and
cash
Organizations Instrumental in
Forming TMA
 7 Transportation government agency
 7 Metropolitan planning organization
 6 Employers
 3 Community/residential organizations
 2 Developers
Issues Prompting TMA Formation
 Local congestion and parking
constraints
 Growth and Construction
 Air quality
 Special event traffic
 Business promotion
Themes of Mission Statements
 Reduce SOV travel through TDM programs
and marketing outreach
 Improve transportation service
 Improving quality of life for those who live and
work in service area
 Managing and improving congestion
 Integrating alternative modes of transit
 Promoting economic development
 Beautifying the environment
Themes of Mission Statements
 Public private partnership/develop a
collaborative process for implementing
transportation solutions
 Improve conditions for further
development
 Enhance image of and promote the
service area as a place to work/live
 Improve working environment for
employees
Authority Deciding Final Actions
 4 Combination of membership and local
government
 3 An authority comprised only of
membership, i.e., board of directors
Organizational Characteristics
 Formation dates: 1992 to today
 4 501(c)(3)
 1 501(c)(4)
 2 Unincorporated
– 501(c)(6) business league
– 501(c)(3) downtown development
organization
Organizational Characteristics
 7-52 voting members
 0-10 nonvoting members
 Most common nonvoting members:
DOT, MPO and TMA Executive Director
Organizational Characteristics
 One TMA had a defined duration of term
of office for board members (3 years)
with a maximum of 2 terms.
 One TMA had a defined duration of term
of office for board officers (2 years) with
a maximum number of consecutive
terms (one term)
Board Member Recruitment
 3 Determine all constituent groups
 3 Identify critical areas of commitment
 3 Target prospects for peer-to-peer
recruitment
 2 Identify gaps in expertise
 2 Seek nominations from outside
organizations
 1 Other (directors, presidents, VPs targeted)
Board Member Training
 3 Do not conduct Board training
 2 Provide new Board member
orientation and training
 2 Provide a Board member manual
 1 Other (info. packet to new board
members)
Board Member Responsibilities
 6 Strategic planning
 5 Member recruitment
 5 Work plan development
 5 Financial oversight
 4 Financial planning
Documents Maintained
 8 Mission statement
 8 Objectives
 8 Annual/biennial work plan
 6 Bylaws
 3 Policies and Procedures manual
 2 Strategic Plan (updated annually)
Insurance Retained
 4 Professional liability insurance
 4 None
 2 Officers and directors insurance
 0 Fiduciary liability insurance
Committees
5
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Executive Committee
Media/Public Relations
Project specific
Membership/Recruitment
ETC Network
Long Range Planning
Budget/Finance
Convention/Annual Meeting
Summary
 How We Are Different
– Government played greater role in TMA
formation
– Less business participation
– More emphasis on non-commuters
– More emphasis on vanpools/shuttles
– Less emphasis on local/regional advocacy
Summary
 How We Are Different
– ED education and professional background
– Less staff evaluation
– Depend less on member dues
– Depend more on federal grants
– Florida TMAs favor 501(c)(3) incorporation
Conclusions
 Do differences signal strengths/challenges?
– Developable land and fair air quality in
Florida alter perceptions of need for
alternative transportation
 Suggested response
– Explore new funding sources
– Renew efforts to attract private sector
– Emphasize regional/local advocacy