By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that would require that cities and towns include a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) element in their master plans. Sponsors say that TDM studies policies aimed at giving people effective, reliable transportation options, often by spreading travel across modes, locations, routes and times of day.

The measure also emphasizes collaboration with Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) to reduce congestion and improve mobility.

Supporters said that TDM and TMA options can help improve transportation equity by allocating resources to under-served groups, including non-drivers and reduce negative impacts from driving, such as congestion, noise, air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. They argued that implementing TDM policies is often less expensive for cities and towns than car-centric options such as expanding roads and parking facilities.

“Massachusetts has some of the worst traffic congestion in the Wwrld. Too often, transportation planning is done on a project-by-project basis rather than as part of a holistic, municipality or regional basis,” said sponsor Rep. Steven Owens (D-Watertown). “[My bill] fixes that.”