Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM)

The 2003 PTDM Plan

As a major employer in Cambridge, Harvard is committed to reducing traffic congestion in Cambridge through programs designed to encourage car-pooling, increased use of public transit and alternative modes of transportation. The goal of Harvard's 2003 PTDM plan was to provide the City with an accurate baseline assessment of Harvard's current parking supply and describe TDM measures and strategies offered by the CommuterChoice Program.

The PTDM plan is an extensive report on Harvard's existing TDM programs, the University's Cambridge parking supply, and the total population of employees and graduate students who travel to the University. It was presented to the City of Cambridge in compliance with the requirements established in the 1998 Parking and Transportation Demand Ordinance.

The PTDM Plan describes a menu of transportation services and cost-effective financial incentives that Harvard has in place with the goal of reducing its single occupancy vehicle “SOV” rate from 27.4 percent to 24.7 percent. In addition, Harvard's aspiration to increase on-campus housing of graduate students from 40% to 50% by 2011 should further reduce transportation impacts by reducing the number of commuting students.

2003 PTDM Plan (PDF, 532Kb)

Progress Reports

In the Monitoring Section of the PTDM Plan, Harvard committed to providing updates to the City of Cambridge PTDM Officer. To date, three Progress Reports have been issued.

Highlights from the 2008 Progress Report

Although Harvard is Cambridge's largest employer, as an educational institution it is naturally geared toward flexible work and academic schedules which means its impact on peak commuter traffic is less than other traditional businesses. Since 2007 there has been a 4 percent increase (38.6%) in Cambridge based employees and students leaving after 6:00 pm, with 21 percent leaving after 7 pm.
Harvard’s CommuterChoice programs are having a direct positive effect on greenhouse gases by reducing vehicle miles traveled and single occupant vehicles through the implementation of and support for the wide variety of transportation demand management (TDM) incentives offered to employees and students.
The single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) rate for Cambridge based employees and graduate students has decreased to 14% (from 17% in 2007).
Average monthly MBTA pass sales, which are subsidized by Harvard, have increased by 9% since the previous year.
Registered ZipCar Affiliates increased by 22% since 2007 to more than 5,400.
Promoted GoLoco, a rideshare program, to MBTA commuters to offset increased parking fees at MBTA parking lots.