CONNECT Centralina
CONNECT Centralina envisions a future where sustainable and affordable travel options are accessible, known and convenient to everyone in the greater Charlotte region.
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Individuals TDM Partners and Employers CONNECT Centralina Regional TDM PlanCONNECT Centralina’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program works to encourage sustainable models of travel in the greater Charlotte region. TDM promotes education and incentives that are meant to complement existing transportation infrastructure to allow travelers to better understand and increase use of the region’s transportation choices.
Information for Individuals:
Transportation choice – the ability to select from a variety of transportation modes to meet one’s daily needs – is critical to ensuring a high quality of life, access to opportunities and economic vitality.
Building new roads or lanes is expensive, long-term and creates more demand for driving in a single-occupancy vehicle (SOV). By changing preferences and travel behaviors, TDM programs educate and encourage travelers to use existing infrastructure and non-SOV options.
According to the most recent Census Bureau data, 71% of workers in our region commute by driving alone. How can you make a transportation choice to change this?
Carpooling
Ride-sharing options, such as carpooling, offer ways to reduce commute costs and reduce traffic congestion. Did you know that high occupancy vehicles with three or more persons can ride free in the I-77 Express Lanes? To find a carpool match, check out NCDOT’s Share the Ride NC.
Information for TDM Partners and Employers:
Centralina Regional Council (Centralina) is currently championing the effort to develop a TDM program for the greater Charlotte region. Centralina is a lead sponsor and implementor of the CONNECT Beyond Regional Mobility Plan (2021), which created specific recommendations for the TDM program.
TDM Program Goals
Building new roads or lanes is expensive, long-term and creates more demand for driving in a single-occupancy vehicle (SOV). By changing preferences and travel behaviors, TDM programs increase the efficiency of existing infrastructure and allow travelers to better understand and increase their use of non-SOV options.
CONNECT Centralina aims to:
- Reduce Driving / Parking Demand
- Reduce Travel Times
- Cost Savings for Workers and Businesses
- Increase Walking, Biking and Transit
- Support Economic Development
- Increase Roadway Capacity for Freight Mobility
Key TDM Strategies for the Region
CONNECT Centralina will focus on the following categories of TDM strategies to promote transportation options in the greater Charlotte region:
- Education & Marketing – advancing communications about existing non- SOV options and holding educational events
- Regional Partnerships & Coordination – encouraging employer-led TDM programs and collaboration between transit providers and major employment centers
- Incentives & Facilitation – offering direct incentives or developing partner incentives/TDM toolkits for non-SOV travel
- Technical Assistance – support the development and implementation of TDM policies/regulations around the region
TDM Pilot Projects
As part of its program launch, CONNECT Centralina is conducting a series of TDM pilot projects in Iredell, Mecklenburg and Union counties focused on employment, healthcare and educational centers. The pilot projects will help partners understand barriers to non-SOV travel options and develop TDM strategies to address these barriers.
CONNECT Centralina’s Regional TDM Plan:
In 2024, Centralina completed the Regional TDM Plan for the greater Charlotte region, which outlines the vision, goals, TDM strategies and implementation plan for the CONNECT Centralina program.
Resources:
Safe Routes to Schools Program
Centralina’s Transportation Guide for Seniors and People with Disabilities