Transportation Demand Management

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Transportation Demand Management (TDM) is a federal and state recognized planning strategy to help give commuters more choice in their mode of travel as well as mitigate car congestion and its side effects. As of August 2025, the City of Stamford has officially adopted this strategy within its zoning regulations (section 12.N). Developments in certain areas of the City or meeting certain other criteria must provide a TDM plan for how means of commuting other than single occupancy passenger vehicles will be accommodated and encouraged by their project. The City is committed to assisting all developers with this process in order achieve the best outcomes for all residents and proper owners.

Does your project require a TDM plan?

If your proposed development meets any of the criteria outlined in zoning regulation 12.N.2 a TDM plan must be submitted. These are typically large scale residential developments, certain commercial developments, or any development on lots zoned under certain categories specified in the regulations. 

A zoning map can be consulted here.

The most up-to-date information for zoning lots is best obtained by contacting the Stamford Land Use Bureau.

What do you submit for your initial TDM plan?

The primary TDM form is located here. 

A TDM plan must include:

  • a parking study of the proposed development that describes how parking demand will be optimally met;
  • a traffic study;
  • a list of techniques designed to have 20% of all users of the development commute via modes other than single occupancy vehicle (these may include carpooling, biking, transit, walking, etc.); and
  • a list of techniques for non-residential land uses to reduce the need for peak-hour commuting;

The form will help guide an applicant through these steps.

The exact details of the TDM plan's contents are outlined in sections 12.N.3 and 12.M of the zoning regulations as well as on the form linked above. The City of Stamford may ask for additional information or studies for a TDM plan.

Need help developing your TDM Plan?

In developing your TDM plan you may consult CTrides, the official Connecticut Department of Transportation's office for TDM. CTrides may be consulted when completing the TDM form. A similarly qualified transportation consultant may also be used to propose TDM strategies. If an applicant uses a third-party consultant, please verify their qualifications with the City Transportation Department or CTrides. 

What are examples of TDM strategies?

Some examples of TDM strategies include, but are not limited to:

  • Car or bike share programs
  • Bicycle parking facilities
  • Carpool/shared ride priority parking
  • Transit pass programs
  • Parking space cash-outs
  • Unbundling parking from leases
  • Providing funding to support transit services

Who do you submit your TDM plan to?

The TDM Plan is submitted for review to the Stamford Transportation, Traffic and Parking Department and the Stamford Land Use Bureau as part of the Zoning Application Process. 

What is the TDM review process?

The complete review process is listed in the zoning regulations section 12.N.4

TDM plans are first reviewed by the Transportation Department for submission compliance and feedback.

The final draft of the TDM plan must be approved, along with all other necessary plans, by the Stamford Zoning Board.

Should any minor changes need to be made after Zoning Board approval, the Land Use Bureau will have final say with Transportation Department endorsement.

What do you submit once your development has been approved?

Any applicant who submitted a TDM plan as a condition of development approval must continue to submit an annual mode split report by January 15th of each year (zoning regulations section 12.N.5). This annual report is submitted to the Transportation Department. The City may require an applicant to create an improvement plan by March 31st of that year if TDM targets are not met. Non-compliance for the reporting requirements will constitute an offence under Stamford Code section 248.

Need further assistance?

Please call or email Luke Buttenwieser of the Transportation Department at 203-977-1742 or lbuttenwieser@stamfordct.gov, or Vineeta Mathur of the Land Use Bureau at 203-977-4716 or VMathur@StamfordCT.gov should you have any questions about this process.

Previously submitted TDM plans

The following is a database of all approved TDM plans within Stamford. Please consider these past plans when putting together your TDM plan.