About
Research Park Connect is a new initiative to link the Research Park community. We provide you with resources to better access your Research Park destinations and to connect with others in the community.
- Increase quality, convenient, and affordable transportation choices
- Reduce traffic congestion through peak SOV trips
- Provide information, encouragement, and incentives for transportation alternatives
- Share resources
- Create community
WHAT IS TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT?
Transportation demand management, often referred to as TDM, means making more efficient use of transportation resources. For companies and other organizations like those in Research Park, TDM is the primary way to directly improve the transportation system in a constrained urban environment.
TDM is often synonymous with reducing the number of single-occupant vehicle trips, especially at peak travel periods - since the single-occupant vehicle is an inefficient use of the transportation system because of its low occupancy and need for expensive parking space.
TDM typically encompasses policies and programs like transit pass discounts, ride share programs, and community outreach but can also include smaller capital or operational projects such as bike racks or shuttles. Larger capital projects such as street reconstruction, high-capacity transit lines, or parking structures are not TDM, though these types of projects can - and often need to - complement TDM programs. At its core, TDM seeks to change the balance of financial, time, and convenience factors each person considers in deciding how to get to and around work each day - whether to drive alone at peak periods or choose an alternative.
FAQ
Have you ever wondered what it is like to ride transit to work? There are a few tools to make trying out transit easier. You can buy a Farepay Card from UTA to make paying easier and get discount. You can use the TravelWise trip planner tool to find the best route. If you work for the University, you can use your University ID as a transit pass. If you live within Salt Lake City, you can buy a Hive Pass, a heavily discounted monthly transit pass.
When it comes time to catch your bus or train, find real-time information at one of the apps from the UTA App Center.
Bicycling is a convenient, healthy, and fun option for getting around Research Park. Currently, bicycling is challenging in some areas because of lack of dedicated facilities and conflicts with motorized traffic. The University of Utah and Research Park are committed to improving cycling ease and safety. The upcoming Research Park Master Plan will explore ways to improve conditions for cyclists. The Research Park Transportation Working Group will work with Salt Lake City and UDOT to help implement these improvements as well as projects already planned by the City and other stakeholders. In addition, the Bike Commuters of Research Park (Bike CoRP) is a new organization to advocate for the interests of those cycling to, from, and in Research Park.
7 out of 10 people commuting to Research Park drive on Foothill Drive, despite significant congestion both on the corridor and at key intersections accessing Research Park, such as Sunnyside Avenue and Wakara Way. Research Park-bound traffic is a major part of this congestion and managing transportation demand to and from Research Park is a critical part of reducing this Foothill congestion. The Foothill Drive Implementation Strategy’s planned high-occupancy vehicle and transit only lanes and multi-use paths align with transportation demand management (TDM) strategies such as carpooling and transit. Find more information on TDM above.
Sign up for TravelWise Tracker groups – for your organization and for Research Park, then use the trip planner. In addition, sign up for our e-newsletter on the transportation homepage to watch for events and other networking opportunities for the Research Park community.
Carpooling to Research Park has multiple benefits, for you and the broader community. When you share the cost of the commute trip with one or more other people, you pay less for gas and sustain less wear and tear on your vehicle. You also share the burden of driving through traffic, are able to relax while you are not driving, and may gain access to a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on I-15 or another freeway. You gain benefits at your workplace such as priority parking spaces.
An additional consideration is that if a large segment of the Research Park community makes these choices, in the long term it will improve the transportation network and benefit everyone.
Walking or bicycling to lunch or another meal in Research Park is an option that may save you a drive outside of the park and give you a nice break in your day. Research Park offers a variety of places to get lunch . In addition, food trucks are a growing option throughout the Research Park community – stay tuned for information about food truck events.
UTA offers a Guaranteed Ride Home program for pass holders. If you have an emergency and need to leave when UTA is not operating, UTA will arrange for alternative transportation for you. Contact UTA for more details.
There are many ways to travel between Research Park and either the University Main Campus or the Medical Center. University Commuter Services offers three shuttles that run through Research park. Track the shuttles using our shuttle tracker. In addition, Lime and Bird scooters are also available in Research Park and at the Main Campus and at the Medical Center.
While Research Park is served by a wealth of light rail and bus service, there are ways transit could better serve the park and provide you with more of a direct link to your Research Park destination. Working with the Research Park Transportation Working Group, we will explore small ways the UTA and University shuttle system can be more optimized for Research Park community, explore the possibility of additional shuttle service, and advocate for those changes.
RESEARCH PARK TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
In 2017, a group of Research Park organizations and other partner agencies began discussing transportation challenges in Research Park. These conversations evolved into an ongoing Transportation Working Group for Research Park that now meets every two months.
Issues raised have included walking and bicycling safety, access to public transit, parking, carpooling, and transportation implications for Research Park’s community growth.
The group has begun defining a vison and objectives, and started initiatives focused on making information easier to find. These include a transportation website for Research Park as well as a community outreach strategy.
For questions, please contact researchparktdm@gmail.com.
RESEARCH PARK TRANSPORTATION SURVEY FINDINGS
In 2015, University of Utah Real Estate Administration and Utah Department of Transportation conducted a survey of some 2,000 Research Park employees, at the time nearly 20 percent of the park’s employment base. Find the survey results summary here; below are some of the key findings:
- 80 percent of Research Park commuters drive alone to work, and 80 percent commute at “peak” times – 7 to 9 a.m./ 4- 6 p.m.
- 7 out of 10 Research Park commuters uses Foothill Drive.
- Approximately half of non-U of U employees are aware of company transportation programs but about 1 in 10 use them; 3 in 4 U of U employees are aware of transportation programs but about 40 percent use them.
- Research Park employees are open to taking transit: 1 in 5 identifies as a “transit rider” but 9 out of 10 say they either already take or would try transit.
Questions
Research Park Connect is a new initiative to link the Research Park community. Reach out with any questions or concerns.