Pleasanton's surprising success with its TSM program, a majority of commuters still arrive and depart from work during peak commute hours: 58% arrive during the morning peak-hour; and 51 % take off during the afternoon peak-hour. But the morning and afternoon commute periods have begun to spread. "We've had great cooperation with AT&T in staggering the work hours of its employees" said Gilpin. "Some work shifts start as early as 5 a.m., while others begin as late as 9 a.m., resulting in a relatively low impact on the peak commute hour." With 3,257 employees, AT&T is Pleasanton's largest single employer and has achieved a reduction in peak-hour traffic among its employees of 43%.

Other companies that have made great strides by reducing single-occupant trips by more than 50% during the peak commute periods include: Kaiser Sand (175 employees, 95% reduction); EG&G Energy Measurements (80 employees, 76% reduction); Berkeley Glaslabs (55 employees, 74% reduction); Kaiser Aluminum (317 employees, 63% reduction); Hilton Hotel (200 employees, 61 % reduction); Safeco Insurance (127 employees, 590Jo reduction); Proficient Foods (81 employees, 550% reduction); and Nuclepore (59 employees, 52% reduction). Even city hall got in the act by registering a 64% reduction among its 267 employees.

"The TSM Ordinance has teeth because of peer pressure" observed Gilpin. "No company wants to be the one that stalls the program's intention and momentum. There's also the power of positive reinforcement at work here. The better the program operates, the more efficient our roadways, our parking lots and the companies themselves become!"

A task force is responsible for ensuring that the goals of the ordinance are fulfilled. The force consists of representatives from each employer -- or multi-tenant building -- with 100 or more persons, from each transit authority serving the Pleasanton area, concerned local merchants and Transportation Manager Gilpin

The task force has had some input and success in the city's planning process, too. "As a direct result of our recommendations, the Pleasanton City Council required sidewalks,and bicycle lanes to be added to Johnson Drive;' said Pale Chestnutt,_ chairman of the TSM Tusk Force, and an AT&T employee. "We look at the addition of a bike lane on Johnson Drive as a real victory for the task force" added Chestnutt, "because if we can incorporate transportation alternatives into the infrastructure, it will give TSM a permanent role in Pleasanton!"

In addition to adhering to the recommendations of the force, several of Pleasanton's larger corporations have sponsored special events to promote TSM internally. The owners association at Hacienda Business Park, the largest such business development in Northern California, has sponsored a parkwide transportation fair the past two successive years. The fair has featured vintage cars, fashion shows, health and fitness exhibits, and information from transportation agencies. More than 1,200 people attended last year's fair.

Clorox held a special bike-to-work day for its 400 employees, offering prizes, company lockers and free safety checks on equipment to those who biked to work. Viacom International produced a special employee newsletter to inform staffers about the benefits of TSM, which include preferential parking to those commuters success with TSM even more startling in 1986 is that it came at a time when gas prices plummeted 30 percent and Americans went on a record car buying binge that has put more single commuters than ever behind the steering wheel.

Some transit providers have even felt the pinch from the plentiful supply of cheap gas and low-interest car loans. RIDES, a Bay-Area-wtde agency that coordinates and promotes ridesharing, reported a three-percent reduction in those using carpools during 1986. Meanwhile, BART reported its ridership fell by 10 percent during the same period.

Transportation planners throughout the Bay Area have watched the Pleasanton TSM program with a keen eye. Gail Murray, who sits on the Walnut Creek City Council and is manager of Berkeley TRIP, a commute alternative agency that receives partial funding from the University of California, cites Pleasanton's unified effort in its war on traffic as the most gratifying single result from TSM.

"It's always a tremendous effort to get both the public and private sectors working toward the same goal" said Murray. "The Pleasanton TSM Ordinance has gotten city planners and real estate developers to work hand-in-glove with one another in fighting traffic congestion -- not an easy thing to do."

The Director of San Jose's TSM effort, Shanna O'Hare, agreed. "Pleasanton has broken new ground in an area where other communities are just getting started. The TSM Program has created a real spirit of cooperation among business leaders, residents and the city. I think a number of Bay Area communities can learn and have, in fact, become inspired by Pleasanton's results."

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: February 9, 1987 Pathways.