Transportation
Introduction
Transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants that contribute to health problems such as heart and respiratory diseases and cancer. Due to disproportionate exposure, these health impacts are frequently more pronounced in low-income communities next to major transportation corridors. In addition, the extraction, production, and global distribution of fuels for transportation can damage environmentally and/or culturally significant ecosystems and may financially benefit hostile and/or oppressive governments. Institutions can positively impact human and ecological health and support local economies by modeling sustainable transportation systems.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Charging Ahead: Plan and Collaborate to Support Electric Vehicle Adoption by Commuters and Fleets
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
- University of Florida (FL)
Vehicle electrification is creating new demands on universities to provide electrical charging stations for commuters, visitors, and campus-owned vehicles. Rapidly increasing demand for these services is evidenced by the exponential ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Safer Streets: Applying the Volpe National Side Guard Standard for Large Trucks on a Campus
- Harvard University (MA)
In February 2018, Harvard University announced a new initiative to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety by becoming the first higher education institution on the East Coast to install side guards ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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How Providing Public Transit Passes Not Only Helps Students Financially, But Empowers Them Too
- Augsburg University (MN)
Environmental Action Committee (EAC) is a student led campus organization working on sustainable initiatives that benefit both the campus and student body at Augsburg University. One of the group's ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Don't pack your bags. We can create interactive, fun and transformative e-conferences.
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Alberta (AB)
Don't stress! Yes, conferences create connections and inspire new ideas; however, traveling to conferences costs time, money and increases our carbon footprint. But no, it's not the only ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Revolutionizing Transportation & Mobility Data Surveys with AI and Smart Phones: A pilot study
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
- B-Line Analytics (NS)
Data science, artificial intelligence and smart phones carry the potential to revolutionize transportation/mobility planning and scope 3 greenhouse house gas inventories. Traditional transportation surveys are conducted by hundreds of ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Getting There from Here: Improving Data Collection and Reporting Related to Commuting Impacts
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Second Nature (MA)
For more than a decade, tracking greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts of commuting has been one of the more crazy-making aspects of sustainability reporting and planning. In 2019, University ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Convincing Our Colleagues to Fly Less: Engaging Academics on E-Conferencing
- University of Alberta (AB)
Academic conferences provide invaluable scholarly interaction, yet a reliance on air travel means conferencing has a big carbon footprint. Estimates suggest air travel can make up 15-30 per cent of ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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A proven methodology for calculating air miles traveled and associated emissions
- Columbia University (NY)
Calculating Scope 3 emissions from university related travel can be difficult, especially if data is not being collected by a designated travel agent. Columbia University has implemented a methodology to ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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A Switch to Zero-Emission Buses for Campus Transportation Helps More Than the Riders!
- University of Montana (MT)
- Proterra (CA)
Many Universities are committed to 'Greening' their campuses. By simply replacing one diesel bus the CO2 emissions are reduced by approximately 230,000 lbs. annually. This means that one bus ...
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Slow Conferencing: A Recipe for Connection in Troubled Times
- University of Toronto (ON)
The international conference comes at a cost in terms of our carbon footprint, but it also comes at a cost in terms of building broad communities of interest - particularly for ...
- Posted Dec. 2, 2019
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The environmental footprint of academic and student mobility in a large research-oriented university
- McGill University (QC)
- Universite de Montreal (QC)
Academic mobility for field work, research dissemination and global outreach is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to the overall environmental footprint of research institutions. Student mobility, while less studied ...
- Posted Dec. 2, 2019
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Canada's colleges and universities among the greenest in the world
- AASHE (PA)
- Nova Scotia Community College (NS)
- Mohawk College (ON)
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
- Dalhousie University (NS)
CBC News shares the news that college and university campuses across Canada are some of the greenest schools in the world according to the 2019 Sustainable Campus Index.
- Posted Sept. 30, 2019
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University of Washington mailing delivery e-bike program
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
UW Mailing Services uses a fleet of electric-assist cargo bicycles to deliver nearly all mail deliveries to 455 departments across the university.
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
- Photographs
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Academic air travel has a limited influence on professional success
- University of British Columbia (BC)
Lowering the growth in greenhouse gas emissions from air travel may be critical for avoiding dangerous levels of climate change, and yet some individuals perceive frequent air travel to be ...
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
- Publications
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Bike Share & Employee E-Bike Purchasing
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Thompson Rivers University recently established two electric bike programs to boost individual wellness and help reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Through an electric bike sharing program, students, faculty and staff ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2019
- Photographs
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U-Bikes and Cyclab at Princeton University
- Princeton University (NJ)
Princeton University's U-Bikes and Cyclab programs work to support sustainable development on campus. The U-Bikes programs takes abandoned bikes collected by Public Safety and repairs and reuses them in ...
- Posted May 22, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Thompson Rivers University Bikeshare and Employee E-bike Purchase Program
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Thompson Rivers University began a simple bike share program with five bikes that was designed for students, staff and faculty to have access to bicycles for up to a week ...
- Posted May 20, 2019
- Case Studies
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Delivering difference: using e-bikes to deliver mail at the University of Washington
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
With over 80,000 students, faculty, and staff on campus, it's difficult to comprehend the sheer number of packages, textbooks, course packets and dorm mail UW Mailing Services delivers ...
- Posted May 20, 2019
- Case Studies
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The Impact of Solar-assistance on Electric Golf Carts
- Georgia College & State University (GA)
In the Condensed Matter Research Lab at Georgia College, we conducted a real-world experiment to quantify the impact of vehicle-mounted solar panels. Our campus golf cart fleet consists of both ...
- Posted May 20, 2019
- Case Studies
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Cross-Campus and Community Collaborative Bikeshare
- Champlain College (VT)
- University of Vermont (VT)
Champlain College and UVM played an integral role in advancing the timeline of bringing bikeshare to Chittenden County. With almost 75% of active Greenride members being affiliates of UVM and ...
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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Columbia University transitions to electric intercampus buses to reduce emissions by 70%
- Columbia University (NY)
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (NY)
- New Flyer (MB)
In 2018, Columbia University introduced six new battery-electric transit-style buses to its intercampus shuttle network as a way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from campus operations, improve local air ...
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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UC Irvine’s Transition from a Bio-Diesel to Electric Transit Fleet
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is the first college campus in the nation to transition to a fully-electric bus fleet. The student-funded and student-operated Anteater Express campus shuttle service ...
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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An analysis of vehicular emissions at Kansas State University
- California State University, Bakersfield (CA)
- Kansas State University (KS)
There has been a wave of recent interest in understanding the dynamics of vehicular emissions in university towns. Using data from a recent survey of Kansas State University students, faculty ...
- Posted May 15, 2019
- Publications
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Mail and Courier Sustainability Project
- University of Rochester (NY)
Patricia Van Valkenburgh, University of Rochester Class of 2019, developed, implemented, and completed an initiative to reduce gas emissions from the University Mail Services (UMS) mail fleet, which had recently ...
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Case Studies
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UMCycle Bike Kiosk and Cycle Plaza
- University of Manitoba (MB)
The UMCycle Bike Kiosk offers a four-season community bike shop where University students, faculty, staff and surrounding community can come together to get their bikes serviced; connect with other cycle ...
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Case Studies
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Carpool Program
- Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)
This carpool program was created to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce traffic and single-occupancy driving, and increase parking availability in our overcrowded parking lots on campus. A pilot program was ...
- Posted May 7, 2019
- Case Studies
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Parking demand management in a relatively uncongested university setting
- McMaster University (ON)
- Ryerson University (ON)
Although travel demand management (TDM) has featured more prominently in transportation planning and programs, its role in a university context is still emerging. University TDM efforts hold much potential, but ...
- Posted April 30, 2019
- Publications
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University of Miami Mobility Plan
- University of Miami (FL)
Executive Summary The University of Miami is committed to programs and strategies that reduce single-occupant vehicle trips and maximize efficiency for moving to, from, within, and around its Coral Gables ...
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Publications
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Colleges That Funded Scooter Startups Don’t Love Them on Campus
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
- AASHE (PA)
- Bloomberg (NY)
- Bird (CA)
This article examines why campus safety offices and the endowment managers may feel differently about scooter startups.
- Posted March 30, 2019
- Publications
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The sustainability of international higher education: Student mobility and global climate change
- University of Bath
Much literature discusses higher education as an agent for sustainable development, but the extent to which higher education contributes to unsustainable economic and social systems receives less attention. This paper ...
- Posted March 15, 2019
- Publications
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Students’ mobility attitudes and sustainable transport mode choice
- University of Bergamo
This study aims to explore the propensity of university students to use different sustainable transport modes, taking into account individual and specific trip characteristics, as well as students’ psychological traits ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2018
- Publications
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Dockless Bikeshare Successes: Minimizing Risks Through Proactive Planning and Communication
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)
Whether to reduce their carbon footprint, alleviate parking pains or address the first/last mile challenge for alternative commuters, institutions are increasingly looking to shared dockless mobility devices such as ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Mitigating Air Travel Emissions: Measuring, Pricing and Collaboration
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Duke University (NC)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Presenters will discuss their approaches to tracking airline miles, estimating emissions, and counter-acting these emissions. Carbon neutral air travel requires data availability to accurately estimate emissions, but perhaps a larger ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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The Case Study of Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) Programs at Eight US Universities
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Many universities across the US address sustainability on campus and aim at reducing the environmental footprint. Universities' strategies to reduce the carbon footprint include promoting alternative modes of travel, such ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Alternative Transportation in the Rural Context
- State University of New York at Cortland (NY)
SUNY Cortland and other smaller comprehensive colleges function as economic drivers to the local economy, and especially in the case of smaller colleges located in more rural settings. In this ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Designing Despite the Department of Transportation
- College of Charleston (SC)
In a state, South Caroline, that is lacking in alternative transportation infrastructure and can barely maintain the infrastructure, how can a place of higher learning creative transportation? Most roads in ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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A Sustainable Parking Framework and Strategies to Encourage More Sustainable Transportation
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is transitioning from a commuter campus to an urban campus with a vibrant heart. Guiding the process are strategic sustainable priorities consistent with the United Nations ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Environmental Impact and Cost Savings Data for Low Speed Electric Vehicles on College Campuses
- Polaris Industries (MN)
In this discussion we will review environmental and financial data from two separate universities that have reduced their carbon footprint and the cost of their campus fleet operations through the ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable for Your Bottom Line: Electric Buses and Simple Infrastructure for Your Campus Fleet.
- Proterra (CA)
Campuses are growing and evolving, and with that, our transportation needs are changing. Now more than ever, we need smart solutions that provide safer, more reliable and cleaner transit. As ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Transportation Solutions
- Polaris Industries (MN)
College and universities frequently struggle to meet state sustainability mandates while maintaining a strict transportation budget. Also, as student populations grow and traffic becomes a greater problem safety is also ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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From Cars to Bikes - A Campus Transformation
- Purdue University (IN)
- Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA) (IN)
The transformation of physical environments on college campuses typically comes in the form of a formal master planning effort with great vision and fanfare. BUT there are other, more granular ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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How University Transportation Practitioners are Transforming USGBC's Global Transportation Emphasis
- Cornell University (NY)
- Stanford University (CA)
- U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
- Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MA)
Transportation is the fastest growing source of global C02 emissions. Two years ago, the USGBC added Parksmart, a parking-structure and transportation certification program, into its suite of offerings. Universities have ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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The Gold 1 Garage - Parksmart Case Study
- WTW Architects (PA)
Sustainable parking structures are being designed and constructed across the country and around the world. Parksmart℠ is the world's only rating system defining and recognizing sustainable practices in parking ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Abandoned Bikes on Campus: Redistribution and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Eastern Mennonite University (VA)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, VA are presented with a number of bikes abandoned by students each year. As cycling gains ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Do It Yourself Green Challenge - Cost Effective Way to Improve Health, Environment, & Climate Change
- My Open Road (CA)
87% of all human produced CO2 emissions comes from burning fossil fuel for electricity/heat, transportation, and industry. The transportation sector is the second largest source of CO2 emission. The ...
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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How to Build the Best Bike Share Program for your Campus
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)
- AASHE (PA)
Bikeshare is quickly becoming the most popular sustainable transportation program on many college campuses, with several different models available for consideration. Join this webinar to learn how to conduct a ...
- Posted Sept. 20, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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The Climate-Friendly Global Academic Conference with a Human Touch
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Tufts University (MA)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- AASHE (PA)
- University of Graz
Aviation is responsible for a large proportion of the climate impact of professional life in university communities. One much-discussed option for reducing this climate impact is to shift some conferencing ...
- Posted Sept. 13, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Global academic conferencing: A semi-virtual approach
- University of Graz
Scholars and their institutions contribute significantly to global warming by flying to conferences. An intercontinental return flight in economy class can be compared with burning a ton of fossil carbon ...
- Posted Sept. 12, 2018
- Case Studies
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UIC Campus Bike Rack Inventory
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
In the summer of 2018, this project was undertaken to inventory all bike racks at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Knowing for certain the capacities and locations of the ...
- Posted Aug. 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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Campus Engagement: The Handlebar- Dickinson's Bicycle Cooperative
- Dickinson College (PA)
The Biking@Dickinson initiative promotes sustainable transportation, builds community and provides biking education to the campus. Students can borrow bikes from the college, including Green Bike, refurbished by students in ...
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Benchmarking Data
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Percentage of students that use more sustainable commuting options
- Percentage of employees that use more sustainable commuting options
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Methodologies used to gather data about student commuting
- Methodologies used to gather data about employee commuting
- Facilities for bicycle commuters
- Bicycle parking and storage facilities
- Bicycle and pedestrian plans and policies
- Bicycle sharing programs
- Mass transit programs
- Guaranteed Return Trip (GRT) programs
- Carpool/vanpool programs
- Car sharing programs
- Electric vehicle recharging stations
- Telecommuting programs
- Condensed workweek programs
- Incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus
Scores
The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).