Destination UMED Study
Destination UMED Study
Destination UMED is a study to develop a phased and actionable toolkit for district stakeholders to improve travel to, from, and within the Anchorage University Medical District, or UMED.
This plan was approved by the AMATS Policy Committee on September 28th, 2023.
What is Destination UMED?
Destination UMED is a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) study that will explore projects, policies, and programs to reduce traffic congestion, improve mobility choices, enhance equitable access to district destinations, and support the next decade of UMED growth and economic development.
Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS) is managing the study in collaboration with district stakeholders. An advisory committee, representing a wide cross-section of UMED stakeholders, will provide guidance and input throughout the study.
Why Do A TDM Study Here?
As home to some of the biggest institutions in Anchorage, UMED provides a robust mix of employment, medical, housing, education, retail, and recreational opportunities. It is a crucial regional hub that continues to evolve from its unique past while it looks to future growth and opportunity.
The 2016 UMED District Plan recognized that to reach its vision in a sustainable way, UMED must take proactive steps to improve access to the district, reduce vehicle trips, and mitigate traffic congestion. A priority recommendation of the 2016 UMED Plan was to fund a transportation demand management study (TDM) to "...determine options for reducing single-occupant vehicle travel into the District."
Destination UMED is the implementation of this priority recommendation from the UMED community.
What is Transportation Demand Management?
The primary goal of TDM is to provide more transportation options, give people choices to get where they need to go, and make it possible to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips over time.
TDM includes a combination of transportation services and amenities, parking management, multimodal subsidies, and education to help people walk, bike, take transit, and share rides when they travel to and from UMED.
Click here to learn more about TDM 101 & Best Practices.
Other communities who have invested in TDM and other transportation options have been able to:
