TDM Accredited Organization (TDM-AO)

Accreditation serves as a mark of excellence, affirming that an organization has the necessary administrative infrastructure, governance practices, and professional integration to successfully develop and deliver high-quality Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs and services.

This designation is more than just a credential.  It shows an organization’s leadership in advancing sustainable, people-focused mobility options. It recognizes organizations that go beyond the basics, using innovative strategies that expand access to transportation options, reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, and support more livable, connected communities.

Accredited organizations show a deep, ongoing commitment to improving how people move by aligning their work with the highest standards of the profession. They are actively shaping transportation within their communities by helping to reduce congestion, expand economic opportunity, and build a multimodal transportation system that meets the changing needs of everyone they serve.

Accreditation runs as an annual cohort. Each fall/winter, a new group of candidate organizations begins the process together. Candidates work through their applications over the following months with support from the Accreditation Committee, ACT staff, and one another. Completed applications are due by May 31, and approved organizations are recognized at ACT's International Conference.

Learn more about accreditation

Areas of evaluation 

The accreditation structure evaluates organizations in the following three areas: 

1. Administrative/governance
   • Does the organization have the structure and processes in place to be successful?
2. Contribution to the profession 
   • Is the organization actively helping the profession improve?
3. Collection, reporting, and sharing of standardized performance data
   • What do the most successful TDM programs have in common?

Accreditation requirements

Accreditation Process

Step 1 - Determine Eligibility: Accreditation is open to current ACT member organizations including government agencies (i.e. DOTs, MPOs, COGs), transit authorities,TMA/TMOs, higher education institutions, or non-profit commuter service organizations. The total cost of accreditation is $900, which includes a $100 Application Fee due in step 2 and a $800 Review Fee due at the completion of Step 4.

Step 2 - Complete the TDM-AO Intake Form:  This notifies the Accreditation Committee you're interested in joining the upcoming cohort.  Payment of your $100 Intake Fee will provide you with access to the official TDM-AO Application Form, and support your participation in cohort meetings.

Submit TDM-AO Intake Form

Step 3 - Join the Cohort: After submitting your Intake Form and fee, you will now be able to actively participate in the cohort group.  Meeting monthly, your cohort will work through the Application Form together, sharing feedback and guidance, and providing support to each other as you make your way through the submission of your completed Application Form.

Step 4 - Complete your Application Form: Completing the application takes time and effort, and it may involved several staff members.  Some candidates will need to put new policies and procedures in place to meet every requirement.  Accreditation is meant to recognize your leadership in the field, and also to guide your organization through processes that strengthen the quality of your program.  The $800 Review Fee is due with your completed application.

Application Form Example

Step 5 - Peer Review: After you submit your application, the Accreditation Committee will conduct a thorough peer review.  During the review, the committee may ask for more information or clarification on materials provided.

Step 6 - Recognition & Celebration: Approved organizations are recognized at ACT's International Conference.  You'll receive an electronic and physical copy of your TDM-AO certificate, a digital badge noting your years of recognition, social media tiles, and other promotional materials to celebrate this achievement.

Preparing for Accreditation Application

Start Early: You can start preparing before the cohort begins. From the December start to the May 31 deadline, the application window is about six months, so organizations that gather documents and launch their surveys early have a clear advantage.  

Review the Application Form: To prepare thorough, accurate responses and avoid delays review the sample Application Form.  

Gather All Documents: Reviewing the application form and application requirements will help you collecte and organize everything you need before the cohort begins.  

Provide complete answers: Answer every question thoroughly, because partial responses are unlikely to be approved. When in doubt, include more detail.  Several responses require dates of approvals and by whom.

Help the Committee locate information: Use the text box next to each answer to point reviewers to the right page or section within the document.  For example, avoid requiring the Committee to search through a 100-page employee handbook to find the Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Complete all narratives for Section 4.1: Complete the narrative portions of Section 4.1 for every program listed. The Committee is particularly interested in understanding the reasons behind your choices and practices—explain why you do or do not take specific actions.

Launch your Surveys Early: Start the two required surveys early to allow enough time to achieve the necessary response rates.

• • Apply ACT's accreditation definitions of “Individuals” and “Stakeholders.”  If you have questions about these definitions, please ask for assistance before you start.
  • Clearly state who you surveyed and how you calculated the number of individuals and stakeholders who received the survey.
  • Submit a copy of each survey and note the date it was distributed.

Reaching the required response rates is by far the easiest way to meet this requirement. If, your organization has made an extensive effort and still can't reach the required rate, the Accreditation Committee may still consider your application.  You'll need to document your approach in detail and give a clear, convincing explanation as to why it didn't work. 

Ask for Help: Cohort members have direct access to ACT staff and committee leadership throughout the process. If you're missing required documents, ACT may have templates to help you get started. Past applicants have used AI to draft quality documents quickly, but your application content should be unique to your organization..

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