TDM Toolbox

Mitigation Calculator

Subsector: Trip Reduction Programs
Coordination with Hospitality and Event Venues
VMT Reduction Potential: 3
Cost: 1
ROI: 3
StanCOG Relevancy: 3
Land Use Content: Urban, Suburban, Rural
Trip Type: Recreation
Scale: Regional
Timing: Short Term (1-3 years)
Implementors-Private: Event / Entertainment Venues, Hospitality Businesses
Implementors-Public: Municipalities, Regional Agencies
References: StanCOG StanisCruise Program, StanRTA Transit Services, StanCOG 2026 RTP/SCS

Description

Collaborate with the hotels, event venues, and event planners to provide free shuttles, information, and other resources to visitors and employees to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips.

 

Implementation Details

  • Develop a regional event TDM checklist for major events receiving permits or public support.
  • Coordinate with StanRTA to identify transit routes, stops, schedules, and potential supplemental service for major events.
  • Encourage event organizers to provide transportation information on event websites, tickets, social media, and confirmation emails.
  • Encourage event organizers to promote carpooling and StanisCruise where appropriate.
  • Evaluate temporary shuttle services between transit centers, park-and-ride locations, hotels, and major event venues.
  • Develop partnerships with hotels and event venues to distribute transit and shared-ride information to visitors.
  • Encourage bicycle parking, bike valet, pedestrian connections, and other active transportation amenities at major events.
  • Track attendance, transportation mode, shuttle ridership, and parking utilization at major events to estimate transportation impacts.

Mitigation Potential

Event transportation programs can reduce VMT by providing convenient alternatives to driving directly to event venues. Shuttles, transit services, and ridesharing programs can reduce parking demand, congestion, and vehicle trips associated with large gatherings. Although standardized quantification methods are limited, traveler surveys and attendance-based transportation monitoring can be used to evaluate effectiveness.

Linked Strategies

Equity Considerations

Event transportation programs should provide transportation options for workers and visitors who may not have access to private vehicles. Coordination with transit agencies can improve access for low-income residents, youth, seniors, and individuals with disabilities attending community events. Outreach materials should be available in multiple languages and transportation services should be accessible and affordable.

Funding Sources

This strategy generally requires limited capital funding but requires staff time and coordination between regional agencies, local jurisdictions, event organizers, hotels, venues, and transit providers. Funding could include event organizer contributions, venue sponsorships, local tourism or economic-development resources, transit agency resources, and eligible transportation planning or TDM funding. Existing StanCOG TDM resources could also support development of a regional event transportation framework.

Examples/Case Studies

StanRTA Event Shuttle – Hughson, California

StanRTA provided a shuttle for Hughson’s 2026 National Night Out event, connecting Samaritan Village with Lebright Park so seniors could access the community event without needing to drive. This provides a local example of coordinating transit/shuttle service with a community event and demonstrates how event transportation can be tailored to populations that may face mobility barriers.