TheNeighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) Credit: Transportation Demand Management (TDM)encourages the implementation of strategies to reduce the reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and promote alternative, more sustainable modes of transportation. This credit aims to decrease vehicle miles traveled (VMT), reduce traffic congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the use of public transportation, car-sharing, cycling, and walking.
Option C: Subsidize yearly transportation passes by at least 50% for 100% of the occupants of the project for a minimum of three yearsis the correct answer because subsidizing public transportation passes for all occupants encourages the use of transit, which directly reduces vehicle usage. LEED specifically recognizes this strategy as a way to reduce transportation demand by making public transit more accessible and affordable for residents and workers, aligning with the goals of the TDM credit (Reference:LEED v4 ND Reference Guide).
Option A: Obtain a variance to allow a 25% reduction from local regulatory minimum parking requirementsis not sufficient on its own to meet the TDM credit requirements, although reducing parking can contribute to overall demand management efforts.
Option B: Sell or rent associated parking spaces separately from 50% of dwelling units and/or nonresidential square footageis a parking management strategy that can reduce the demand for parking, but it does not fully satisfy the intent of the TDM credit by itself.
Option D: Ensure that 50% of the residential units and non-residential buildings are within a 1/4 mi (0.4 km) walking distance of a shared vehicleis an effective TDM strategy, but the subsidized transportation passes (Option C) are a more direct and impactful strategy to reduce transportation demand.
Thus,subsidizing yearly transportation passesis the most direct and impactful strategy for meeting the Transportation Demand Management credit in LEED ND, makingOption Cthe correct answer.
