Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.19
Liaison John Pumilio
Submission Date Aug. 11, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Colgate University
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 John Pumilio
Director of Sustainability
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:

Huntington Gym has lockers and shower facilities for bicycle commuters and secure bike racks are found around campus. In the Drake Hall tunnel we have indoor and secure storage for our Green Bikes Program.


Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking for all occupied buildings and makes long-term bicycle storage available for students who live on-site (if applicable)?:
No

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

We have bike racks throughout campus but do not provide long-term bicycle storage of all residence halls.


Does the institution have a bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy (or adhere to a local community plan/policy) that sets standards and practices for campus streets to enable safe access for all users?:
No

A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:

A key goal of Colgate's 2014 Campus Master Plan is to create a more pedestrian and bike-friendly campus with designated routes.


Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:

The Green Bikes program was originally conceived in fall of 2005 as a community bicycle program. The goal of the program was to provide the Colgate and Hamilton community with inexpensive, convenient, human-powered transportation to decrease reliance on automobiles.
Our current fleet consists of 30 bicycles that are rented to specific individuals on a semester basis. It promotes responsibility and accountability for the maintenance and usage of the bike.


Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the mass transit programs:

Colgate offers a free commuter shuttle bus for all students, employees, and residents in the Hamilton, NY community. The Colgate Cruiser is convenient and provides an alternative way to meet new people. The Cruisers' route includes the main campus and the village of Hamilton providing easy access to the Colgate Bookstore, Hamilton Movie Theater, off-campus residence halls and apartments, and other local stores and restaurants in the downtown area.


Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
No

A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
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Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
Yes

A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:

Colgate University has a transportation desk and help services that allow students to sign up for carpools and other modes of sustainable transportation.


Does the institution participate in a car sharing program, such as a commercial car-sharing program, one administered by the institution, or one administered by a regional organization?:
Yes

A brief description of the car sharing program:

We have two ZipCar's on campus for use among all faculty, staff, students, and community members.

Colgate's Student Government Association spearheaded the effort to bring Zip Car to campus in 2011.


Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:

As of 2014, we have one dual arm Level 2 charging station on campus.


Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

A brief description of the telecommuting program:

Colgate employees can and do telecommute if approved by their supervisors in advance. Roughly 10 percent of Colgate employees work remotely at least one day per week according to our 2016 Employee Commuter Survey.


Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week option:

Colgate employees can and do work a condensed work week if approved by their supervisor in advance.


Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:

The university maintains several houses and a five-unit apartment complex for lease by faculty and staff. Rent levels are established to recover Colgate’s costs of maintaining properties. Colgate does not make a profit on its rental properties by adding a profit margin to rents, nor does it attempt to recover the opportunity costs of maintaining rental properties rather than investing the property value elsewhere. In fact, at present Colgate is minimally subsidizing most renters by not fully recovering its costs.


Does the institution employ other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting (e.g. preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles, cash-out of parking programs)?:
Yes

A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:

Colgate has a free shuttle service available to students, employees, and community members coupled with a policy that no students can park on campus between 8 a.m and 3 p.m. Colgate also has a transportation service desk to assist students with carpooling, trains, and bus transportation.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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