VPP Projects Not Involving Tolls
Category: Projects that Make Auto Use Costs Variable

Project - WASHINGTON: Cash-Out of Cars in King County

The Way to Go, Seattle! "One-Less-Car Demonstration Study" asked households to use one less car and keep daily records of how they got around. Households were provided with information on how much their car actually costs to own and operate, as well as information on how to get around by biking, riding transit, and walking. Participant households were provided with a weekly study stipend during the times they were not supposed to use their cars to simulate the financial savings they would realize if they were to actually sell one of their cars (the national average cost of owning/operating a second car is $85 per week). Daily records, odometer readings, and anecdotal stories were analyzed to document costs and to understand whether or not households made significant behavior changes such as consolidating trips, carpooling, taking transit, biking, or walking.

The eighty-six participant households reduced total miles driven by 41,463, or an average of 1,974 miles not driven per week. Likewise, participants collectively saved a total of 8,003 fewer car trips, or an average of 381 fewer trips per week. Finally, the eighty-six households reduced total CO₂ emissions by 30,198 pounds, or an average of 1,438 pounds per week. Additionally, 20 percent sold their "extra" car after participating in the study or during the selection process.

Study Completed

The Final Report with stand-alone Executive Summary and Replicability Package is complete. Fifty CD-ROM copies of the Replicability Package disc were made and arrangements were also made to post all of the documents on the project web page (www.seattle.gov/waytogo).

A pilot version of the "One Less Car Challenge" was launched in September 2003. The Challenge was based on the results of the Demonstration Study that showed that many types of households from all over Seattle were able to reduce drive-alone car trips, and the accompanying mileage and emissions, when given information about 1) the availability of multi-modal transportation choices and 2) the actual costs of owning and operating their second (and in some cases their primary) car.

A web site describing the program as it is currently available to residents exists at: http://www.seattle.gov/waytogo/onelesscar.htm. The final report and replicability package for the demonstration project are also available at: http://www.seattle.gov/waytogo/waytogo.htm.

For More Information Contact

Ms. Jemae Hoffman
Mobility Manager for the Policy Planning, and
Major Projects Division of Seattle
Department of Transportation
Phone: (206) 684-8674
Fax: (206) 684-5180
E-mail: jemae.hoffman@seattle.gov
Visit: www.seattle.gov/waytogo

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