TDM Toolbox

Mitigation Calculator

Subsector: School Programs
Youth School Pools and Education
VMT Reduction Potential: 3
Cost: 3
ROI: 3
CVAG Relevancy: 5
Land Use Content: Urban, Suburban, Rural
Trip Type: School
Scale: Community, Site
Timing: Short Term (1-3 years)
Implementors-Private: Educational Institutions
Implementors-Public: Municipalities, Regional Agencies, School Districts, Transit Agencies
References: California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (2024), Connect SoCal 2024 TDM Toolbox of Strategies, Safe Routes Partnership, California Active Transportation Resource Center, California SRTS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Description

School programs provide ride-matching services, active transportation resources, messaging, and education to increase usage of buses, carpooling, bicycling and walking. School carpool programs are often managed by the school but can also be implemented and managed by regional agencies using software for carpool matching based on school district and puts parents in communication with each other. Educational resources can be tailored to youth through hands on classes about active transportation safety or even teaching kids how to ride bicycles.

Implementation Details

  • Work with RCTC and other agencies to roll out a regional carpool program for schools using existing Mobility as a Service (MaaS) software to facilitate easy coordination and access.
  • Provide resources and funding for school buses and/or expand SunLine microtransit services to other schools.
  • Collaborate with a non-profit or TMA to teach children how to ride a bicycle and safely navigate streets.
  • Launch youth mobility programs that include walking audits, bike rodeos, and transit field trips in school districts across the Coachella Valley.
  • Provide helmets, scooters, and bicycles through city-run raffles, donor programs, or grant-funded Safe Routes to School (SRTS) campaigns.

Mitigation Potential

School programs target how students travel to school. VMT is reduced by improving awareness, education, and access to non-Single Occupancy Vehicle modes, thereby making alternative modes more attractive to parents and youth.

For more details, see CAPCOA (2019), School Carpool Program, pg. 20 for VMT reduction quantification.

Linked Strategies

Equity Considerations

Ensure programs prioritize low-income neighborhoods and students with limited transportation options. Use multilingual materials, and partner with Title I schools and community-based organizations to address barriers to walking and biking.

Funding Sources

Eligible programs can be funded through Federal and State Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and SRTS grants as well as use Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) SRTS technical assistance for planning. Some cities offer SRTS grants and these projects can often be packaged with larger programs or improvements to expand funding eligibility. The IE Commuter SchoolPool Program is a regional ride-matching database for school carpools and vanpools which could provide free services and incentives.

Examples/Case Studies

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programs in the Coachella Valley

The Safe Routes to School programs coordinated with Desert Sands Unified School District and Palm Springs Unified to prioritize infrastructure improvements like bulb-outs, high-visibility crosswalks, and bike safety signage

LDR TDM Toolbox, p. 8

511 Contra Costa School Pool – Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA)

The 511 Contra Costa SchoolPool program is designed to encourage carpooling among students and their families for trips to and from school and after-school activities in Contra Costa County. The program aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and make school commutes safer and more enjoyable by promoting ride-sharing among families.