TMACC Invites Chester County Commuters to Change One Work Trip During TDM Week

MALVERN, Pa. — The Transportation Management Association of Chester County is inviting residents who usually drive alone to test one different way to work during National TDM Week, September 14 through 18.

Transportation Demand Management, commonly called TDM, brings together practical strategies that give travelers more choices and help the transportation network carry people more efficiently. Those strategies include carpooling and vanpooling, public transportation, biking and walking, flexible or compressed schedules, remote work, trip planning, commuter benefits, and clearer travel information.

“This is not an argument against the car, and it is not a demand for a perfect commute,” said P. Timothy Phelps, executive director of TMACC. “We are asking people to look at one workday and ask whether that trip could happen differently. One thoughtful experiment can show a commuter what works and show employers and communities what still needs to improve.”

The latest available U.S. Census Bureau estimate underscores the opportunity. In 2024, an estimated 195,010 Chester County workers age 16 and over drove alone to work, representing 67.8 percent of county workers. An estimated 59,166 worked from home, or 20.6 percent. The American Community Survey figures describe workers’ usual means of transportation to work; they are not daily vehicle counts.

TMACC encourages commuters to choose an option that fits their actual lives. A resident might share a ride with a colleague, check a public transportation route, bicycle or walk when a safe connection exists, shift the workday outside the busiest travel period, or work remotely when the job and employer permit it. Employees who already work remotely one day can ask whether they can have preferred parking when sharing a ride.

TDM also depends on institutions. Employers can offer commuter benefits, preferred carpool parking, secure bicycle storage, flexible schedules, and clear hybrid-work expectations. Municipalities, planners, and transportation providers can strengthen the sidewalks, trails, transit connections, information, and land-use patterns that turn an option into a reliable choice.

Throughout the week, TMACC will publish practical information for Chester County commuters and invite residents to share what would make a different trip possible. The campaign supports the 2026 TDM Week theme, “The Power of Transportation Options.”

“The first question is not, ‘Can I change every commute?’” Phelps said. “It is, ‘Which one trip could I try?’ Start there, pay attention to the experience, and keep what works.”

About TMACC

The Transportation Management Association of Chester County advances equitable, safe, sustainable, and multimodal mobility through education, coordination, advocacy, and transportation services. TMACC works with employers, municipalities, agencies, institutions, and residents to improve access while reducing congestion and transportation-related air pollution. Learn more at https://www.tmacc.org.