Make way for more recognition! This year’s Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) TDM Excellence Award in Higher Education winner is UCLA. The award, from the premier organization and leading advocate for commuter transportation and transportation demand management (TDM) professionals, recognizes exceptional work in addressing commuter challenges and advancing access and mobility. UCLA Transportation received the 2023 TDM Excellence Award for its efforts to better commutes, reduce congestion, and lower vehicle emissions by promoting climate-conscious transportation options.
Dave Karwaski, director of Mobility Planning & Traffic Systems with UCLA Transportation, accepted the award at the 2023 TDM Forum held in Los Angeles on November 2. "UCLA is honored by this industry recognition and committed to continuing to advance our TDM strategies and improve quality of life for campus commuters. We're pleased to carry that work forward to better serve the university community," said Karwaski.
The transportation demand management strategy employed by UCLA Transportation provides Bruins with sustainable options that enable them to get from their location to a destination in a reliable, affordable, and efficient way. TDM done well, can cut back on traffic and reduce reliance on personal vehicles, resulting in communities seeing lower greenhouse gas emissions, leading to cleaner air and direct improvements in public health.
Offering transportation options also improves access and supports economic activity, which can positively impact productivity.
UCLA Transportation aims to go the extra mile for campus commuters with resources to support bicycling to campus, free and subsidized transit passes, EV charging stations, and discounted carpool permits. Standout recent successes contributing to the recognition from ACT include:
- The Earn-A-Bike program for eligible employees and graduate students offering a $900 bicycle package for forgoing a parking permit
- Metro Bike Share arriving on campus and in Westwood Village
- Two transit passes, one for undergraduates and the other for graduate students, offering fare-free unlimited access to all the local and commuter lines serving the campus
- Discounted daily parking permits, which support hybrid work schedules and multimodal commutes
The department is additionally guided by an Active Transportation Plan and Sustainable Transportation Plan, and each year assesses its program and services in the State of the Commute report. Earlier this year, an EV Readiness Plan was released, providing a framework to increase the number of electric vehicles commuting to campus, complete the UCLA fleet’s transition to primarily zero-emission vehicles —including a fully electrified BruinBus system — and support these goals through expanded charging capacity.
“ACT is honored to highlight UCLA’s exceptional work, connecting individuals to where they need to go in a sustainable and reliable way. TDM Excellence Award recipients represent the highest caliber of leadership and innovation in our industry,” said David McMaster, president of the Association for Commuter Transportation.
