Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Tavey Capps
Submission Date Feb. 25, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Duke University
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Tavey Capps
Environmental Sustainability Director
Office of the Executive Vice President
"---" 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:

Limited facilities do already exist on campus including at the Levine Science Research Center. Duke is in the process of locating additional facilities and is working with the two campus gyms to allow bikers to use the showers in the morning. The URL below contains a link to a map showing where all of the different bike racks on campus are located.


Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking (e.g. racks) within 50 ft (15 m) of all occupied, non-residential buildings and make long-term bicycle storage available within 330 ft (100 m) of all residence halls (if applicable)?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

330 Duke has biking infrastructure installed within the ranges noted above around all campus buildings. Duke currently submits a bike plan to the city annually, which outlines all proposed future projects, along with bike parking locations.Duke has over 2,200 bike parking locations on campus, with many of these locations offering covered bike storage. The Fuqua School of Business also offers bike lockers as an additional parking option for bike commuters on campus.


Does the institution have a “complete streets” or bicycle accommodation policy (or adhere to a local community policy) and/or have a continuous network of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths and lanes?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle/pedestrian policy and/or network:

Many of the roadways in and around Duke are public roads, and are therefore in compliance with the NCDOT complete streets policy. Thus, as infrastructure is updated, it follows a complete streets approach as designated by the state. For privately owned and operated roadways on Duke campus, Duke follows the Campus Master Plan for updating roadway and pedestrian infrastructure. The university has numerous greenways in and around campus that complement the existing multi-modal infrastructure, with continued plans to invest in additional infrastructure as funding becomes available.


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:

Zagster has 50 rentable bicycles distributed throughout 4 locations to be used across campus. With a $20 annual pass, the first three hours of use are free.


Is the institution certified as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists (U.S.) or under a similar third party certification covering non-motorized transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the certification, including date certified and level:

Bronze Level, 2012


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 program(s), including availability, participation levels, and specifics about discounts or subsidies offered (including pre-tax options):

Duke offers a GoPass (regional transit pass) to all faculty, students and staff, which enables them to ride all regional transit services at no cost throughout the year. The pass if free for all students, and faculty and staff pay a one-time annual $25 fee.


Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip (GRT) program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the GRT program:

All transit, bike and carpool staff are able to utilize the GRT program up to (6) times annually at no cost to them. Users are reimbursed for any eligible trips taken back to their residence, vehicle or other destinations.


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:

Duke facilitates the use of carpooling through GreenRide, a Duke specific web and map based rideshare solution that helps users find carpool partners. Each staff, faculty, or student member of a carpool receives 24 free parking passes to use on days when they cannot carpool. Carpools also received a parking space in a preferred lot and significantly discounted or free parking dependent on the number of people in the carpool. A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program.


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:

The WeCar by Enterprise fleet includes 18 vehicles at locations across Duke, including West, Central and East campuses, as well as the Health System. The fleet includes the new Chevrolet Volt, which operates two ways: battery powered and gasoline powered.

The service works like other car-sharing programs: vehicles are reserved online, accessed using a membership card and returned to the same location where the car was picked up. Students and employees can check out cars at the rate of $8/10/hour. Daily rentals are also available. Currently, there are 1500 members in the WeCar car share program.


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:

There is (1) level-3 charger at Smith Warehouse. This charger was installed via a grant through Advanced Energy and enables users to stay in the spot for 1-hour of parking, in addition to charging the vehicle. Duke today article: http://today.duke.edu/2014/09/chargingstation


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:

The telecommuting program enables staff to formulate a plan with their management team that allows them to work from home, or telecommute in. Typically a telecommuting arrangement will specify the number of hours to be worked from home, and the number of hours in office. Duke considers telecommuting to be a viable alternative to working from a central Duke worksite in cases where the characteristics of the employee, supervisor, and work are compatible with such an arrangement, and the physical environment, equipment, and technology are adequate to support it. Typically, a Telecommuting arrangement will specify the number of hours to be worked at home and the specific time in which this will occur (eg., every Tuesday, the first Monday of the month, etc.). In cases where the department agrees to support some or all of the costs of an off-site office, the supervisor and staff member should discuss all applicable costs, including that of additional telephone lines, telephone use charges and Internet Service Provider (ISP) charges, as appropriate. Staff members working under a Telecommuting arrangement will come on-site for periodic meetings and interactions with the supervisor. Telecommuting does not connote the professional or management practice of working at home after hours to work on reports or presentations or to catch up on reading.

Approximately 2% of Duke employees telecommute.

See this link for more information: http://www.hr.duke.edu/benefits/family/flexwork/options/telecommuting.php


Does the institution offer a condensed work week option for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week program:

Contingent on the individuals work arrangements and needs, staff are able to condense their work week to accommodate a modified schedule. Staff can opt to work (4) 10-hour days for instance, in place of (5) 8-hour days.


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:

Duke has a Duke-Durham partnership, which focuses on building a sense of commuting within the Durham-Duke population. More information here: https://community.duke.edu/.

Currently, the program has an initiative focused on providing low-cost loans to eligible staff members interested in living in targeted redeveloped neighborhoods. More information on that program, here: http://today.duke.edu/2014/06/southside


Does the institution have other incentives or programs to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and reduce the impact of student and employee commuting?:
Yes

A brief description of other sustainable transportation initiatives and programs:

Duke offers (3) commuter benefits programs for transit, biking and carpooling/vanpooling. Additionally, Duke Parking and Transportation has (2) staff members focused on TDM (transportation demand management) programming. In addition to transit planning and execution, these positions focus on providing resources to all Duke faculty, staff and students.

Duke also offers commuting benefits for cyclists, transit riders and carpool/vanpool riders. Each program offers a variety of incentives, including (2) free parking passes monthly, access to national benefits programs, and discounted commuting costs annually.


The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable transportation program(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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