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ACCS Overview
ACCS was established in 1990 to promote and facilitate the use of transportation modes other than single-occupancy vehicles. This work is known as Transportation Demand Management (TDM). TDM is "a general term for strategies that result in more efficient use of transportation resources." (source: Victoria Transport Policy Institute.)
Arlington is nationally recognized for land use planning that emphasizes public transportation, bicycling, and walking. The work of ACCS to promote the use of Arlington's excellent transportation system has earned numerous national awards from TDM organizations for leadership, innovation, use of technology, customer service, and marketing.
ACCS Vision
Enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of Arlington by working to:
- Reduce traffic congestion
- Reduce the demand for parking
- Provide for the maximum use of existing public transportation and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) infrastructure
- Improve air quality
- Improve mobility
ACCS Mission
To provide the most accurate, timely and useful information and services to residents, workers and visitors in Arlington to increase the use of transportation options such as transit, biking and walking.
ACCS Programs and Services
ACCS accomplishes its mission by encouraging people who live, work or commute through Arlington to use mass transit, car and vanpool, bicycle, walk, telecommute and use other alternatives to driving alone. ACCS does this through the following programs and services:
The Commuter Store™
Call/Fulfillment Center, Distribution & Logistics
Arlington Transportation Partners – Employer Services
The ACCS Family of Websites
Marketing and Promotions
TDM for Site Plan Development
Special Initiatives
The Commuter Store™
Call/Fulfillment Center, Distribution & Logistics
- Call Center for Arlington Transit and websites
- Brochure distribution; 500,000 pieces delivered annually
- Bus stop signage information program (500+ bus stops)
Arlington Transportation Partners – Employer Services
Arlington Transportation Partners offers a free service that makes it easy for Arlington employers (593 member companies representing 131,206 employees), residential communities (289 member buildings representing 57,297 apartment/ condo units), developers and visitor services (to 41 hotels) to set up commuter benefits programs.
The ACCS Family of Websites
ACCS manages more than a dozen websites and blogs focused on various aspects of its mission:
- CommuterPage.com is the first and biggest of the ACCS sites. The site has a regional focus, providing an overview of transportation options in the Washington, D.C. area. Regional maps, bus, and rail schedules, bike and walk routes, carpooling options, and more.
- CommuterPageBlog is a companion to CommuterPage.com, providing a forum where many writers can post articles and anyone can comment on the posts.
- CommuterDirect.com is the place to purchase transit fares online. Tickets and passes are available for all DC regional transit providers; $7 million in annual sales. There is also a section for employers to manage transit benefits for their employees.
- ArlingtonTransit.com is the official website of Arlington's local bus system, ART-Arlington Transit. Maps, schedules, and information.
- Arlington Transit Blog provides the opportunity for two-way communication between Arlington Transit staff and customers
- Arlington Transportation Partners have a website focused on services for employers and multi-family residential properties.
- Arlington's Urban Villages highlights Arlington neighborhoods where one can "live, work, play... no car required."
- WALKArlington.com is the website of WALKArlington, an initiative to encourage Arlingtonians to walk more often.
- BikeArlington.com is the website of BikeArlington, an initiative to encourage Arlingtonians to bike more often.
- The TDM Research Center is an online resource containing dozens of TDM-related marketing research studies and reports.
- iRide is aimed at Arlington teens, encourage them to take transit, walk, and bike.
- Arlington's Car-Free Diet promotes a car-free or car-lite lifestyle.
- Arlington's Car-Free Diet Blog is a companion to the Car-Free Diet website, providing a forum where many writers can post articles and anyone can comment on the posts.
- The TDM Professional Blog is a place for people working in Transit Demand Management to exchange ideas.
Marketing and Promotions
TDM For Site Plan Development
The Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program for Site Plan Development is an ACCS program which coordinates site plan development with commuter and transit services. The program seeks to mitigate the transportation impacts of residential and commercial real estate development projects by encouraging the use of transit, ridesharing, biking, walking, and other alternatives.
- Review development proposals, apply TDM policy, and create TDM Site Plan conditions
- Enforce and monitor more than 70+ site plans
Special Initiatives
- Carsharing—agreement with Zipcar; 70+ on-street parking spaces and 4,000 members
- “Street Team”—promotes transit, biking, and walking at special events
- Research—quantify transportation and air quality impacts
Funding
Federal and State Support
About 50% of the ACCS budget comes from Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality ( CMAQ); another 26% from State grants called TDM/Commuter Services, Transit Aid, and Transit Technical Assistance.
Funds Generated by ACCS Programs
ACCS is partially self-funded by commissions and fees on the sale of fare media, and by site plan contributions for traffic mitigation.
Arlington County Taxpayer Support
For Fiscal Year 2009, ACCS is slated to receive $199,000 in "net tax support." This is the amount of money that the County General Fund will contribute to the entire ACCS program.
Is It Worth It?
The work that ACCS does supports the investment the County has made in its land use plan and transportation infrastructure, resulting in better use of Arlington's transportation system. (See Overview, Vision and Mission, above.) Getting more people to take transit, carpool, bike, and walk reduces traffic congestion, improves air quality, benefits Arlington businesses, and has a positive impact on public health and quality of life. There are a lot of benefits for a modest investment by Arlington taxpayers.
Effectiveness
ACCS does ongoing research on the effectiveness of its programs to find out what's working and what could be improved. The results of these studies are available in the Arlington County Transportation Demand Management Research Center.
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