TDM Calculator - LADOT
by Hack4LA
The LA TDM Calculator is a web app created in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and Los Angeles City Planning. It helps real estate developers design projects that align with new ordinances to reduce over-parking, encourage public transit, and cut down on single-occupancy vehicle trips
Problem
Before the Calculator, developers and city planners lacked a streamlined way to measure and comply with transportation demand management (TDM) requirements. Existing processes were manual, inconsistent, and often resulted in misaligned projects or regulatory delays.
Process
Backlog Prioritization: Features and fixes were prioritized using time-sensitivity and the MoSCoW method (Must, Should, Could, Won’t). This ensured compliance requirements were handled first, followed by usability improvements.
Design System: Built a consistent UI library in Figma (typography, color palettes, modals, inputs) to improve usability and speed up development.
Collaboration: Worked across product, design, dev, and stakeholder teams in recurring meetings (weekly PM/design/dev syncs, stakeholder reviews) to refine priorities.
Issue Tracking: Used GitHub project boards for Icebox management, approvals, epics, and backlog grooming, with a weekly label check to keep issues moving.
Solution
The Calculator now provides:
Step-by-step project entry (project name, permits, case numbers, etc.).
Automatic scoring system (earned points vs. target points).
Accessible design standards (modals, tooltips, info boxes) for clarity.
Integrated compliance tracking, reducing risk for developers while meeting LADOT requirements.
Outcome
Delivered a centralized tool for developers and city planners to evaluate TDM compliance.
Improved clarity and usability via a shared design system.
Enabled faster stakeholder reviews through structured backlogs, staging decks, and updated issue tracking.
Strengthened collaboration across disciplines, applying PM practices in a real civic tech project.