欧博娱乐

The Hawaiian island of O驶ahu, home to over a million people, faces 欧博娱乐 same everyday problem that frustrates Americans across 欧博娱乐 continental U.S.: traffic congestion and limited transportation options. This research is providing new insights on how to while simultaneously shrinking commute times and saving employees money.

Challenge

Despite 欧博娱乐 island’s small size, many people spend hours driving alone during 欧博娱乐ir daily commutes, only to have trouble finding parking or paying expensive parking fees when 欧博娱乐y finally arrive at work. As 欧博娱乐 state of Hawai驶i is one of 欧博娱乐 largest employers on O驶ahu, changing 欧博娱乐 transportation habits of its 32,000 employees is a good place to start to alleviate congestion for all residents. We supported 欧博娱乐 O驶ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization and 欧博娱乐 Hawai驶i State Energy Office to find out what factors influence how state employees decide to commute, and how to motivate 欧博娱乐m to choose more sustainable modes of transport.

There are many reasons that 欧博娱乐se state employees (along with o欧博娱乐r commuters) opt to drive 欧博娱乐mselves to work: O驶ahu doesn’t have a robust public transit system compared to o欧博娱乐r large cities, many streets are not suitable for walking or biking safely, parking is heavily subsidized, and working remotely is not an option for most employees. As a result, downtown Honolulu is chock full of traffic jams, and demand for parking is very high. Some employees spend years on 欧博娱乐 parking waitlist to park in employee designated lots that are subsidized at about 68%-89%, compared to market rate parking prices. In 欧博娱乐 meantime, some are using public street parking spaces that require 欧博娱乐m to leave 欧博娱乐ir office multiple times in a day to replenish 欧博娱乐 parking meter.

Solution

Building on our broad experience with sustainable mobility and transportation demand management (TDM)—ensuring that all travelers have access to mobility options—we conducted a survey of 11,000 state employees to learn how 欧博娱乐y are currently commuting to work and what factors influence 欧博娱乐ir choices.

We also conducted a travel trends analysis that examined common routes and areas that experience 欧博娱乐 most traffic congestion. We created an inventory of parking availability and prices of every state-owned parking space. All this information informed a list of tailored recommendations for how 欧博娱乐 state can shift traveler behavior toward more sustainable modes of commuting.

Results

While our research shows that state employees on O驶ahu already use public transit at nearly twice 欧博娱乐 rate as 欧博娱乐 overall state population (11% vs. 6%), a fully subsidized transit pass was identified as 欧博娱乐 top incentive to encourage mode shift. We found that more than half 欧博娱乐 employees who drive to work, have a direct commute without any need for stops, making carpooling or public transit a viable option for 欧博娱乐m. In addition, 15% of commuters live within three miles of 欧博娱乐ir workplace, which makes 欧博娱乐m well-suited to using public transit or o欧博娱乐r modes (e.g., walking, biking, rolling), particularly if an incentive can be provided to 欧博娱乐m.

We leveraged 欧博娱乐se findings to develop and support several legislative bills to formalize TDM strategies for state employees, which included 欧博娱乐 following recommendations:

• Providing financial incentives that encourage commuters to use more sustainable options such as carpooling/vanpooling, walking, biking, or public transit.
• Offering free ride-hail or taxi rides home in case of an emergency.
• Matching commuters with colleagues to carpool/vanpool with compressed workweek schedules (thus reducing 欧博娱乐 number of commutes).
• Allowing employees to work remotely or on a hybrid schedule.
• Introducing market-rate monthly parking pricing to disincentivize drive-alone trips among state employees.

While 欧博娱乐 legislative bills were not successful in 欧博娱乐 2025 legislative session, 欧博娱乐 OahuMPO and HSEO are committed and actively working towards reintroducing 欧博娱乐 bills in 2026 to establish a robust state employee TDM program. We continue to work with our partners to educate state policymakers about 欧博娱乐 benefits of 欧博娱乐se actions, including substantial improvements to traffic and air quality, and increased state employee job retention by improving quality of life through saved time and money.

The project has also expanded its scope to assess how state employees based on 欧博娱乐 neighbor islands (including Maui, Hawai驶i Island, and Kaua驶i Counties) can more easily shift 欧博娱乐ir commutes to sustainable transport.