Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.20
Liaison Josh Lasky
Submission Date May 14, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

George Washington University
OP-T2-29: Mass Transit Programs

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.25 / 0.25 Mark Ellis
Sustainability Project Facilitator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

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

GW offers pre-tax SmartBenefits to all employees for use on DC metro area bus and rail public transportation services. SmartBenefits is a convenient program that lets employers assign the dollar value of employees' monthly commuting benefits directly to the employees' SmarTrip cards. 1,299 of GW's 6,837 full- and part-time employees (approximately 19%) participate in the SmartBenefits program.

With a their SmarTrip cards, enrolled GW employees can use their SmartBenefits on Metrorail, Metrobus, DC Circulator, ART (Arlington Transit), CUE (Fairfax City), Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Commuter Bus Service, PRTC (Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission) OmniRide, Ride On (Montgomery County), DASH (Alexandria) and TheBus (Prince George’s County).

To facilitate transportation between GW's three campuses (Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon, and Virginia), GW operates the Vern Express which runs between the Mount Vernon Campus and the Foggy Bottom Campus, the Virginia Shuttle which transports people between the Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC) to the Foggy Bottom Campus, and offers a free shuttle (the West Falls Church Express) to and from the West Falls Church Metro station to GW's VSTC.

These shuttle and bus services for students, faculty, and staff help reduce vehicle miles traveled per capita by reducing reliance on via single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) as a primary mode of transit. Portions of this service are open to members of GW's community neighbors as well.

In addition, GW's University Police Department operates a shuttle that runs from dusk until dawn to help members of the GW community move safely throughout the Foggy Bottom Campus, as well as the surrounding areas.


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

Additional information on GW transportation and parking programs available online at http://transportation.gwu.edu/fact-sheets and https://transportation.gwu.edu/

WMATA SmartBenefits Program: http://www.wmata.com/business/employer_fare_program/


Additional information on GW transportation and parking programs available online at http://transportation.gwu.edu/fact-sheets and https://transportation.gwu.edu/

WMATA SmartBenefits Program: http://www.wmata.com/business/employer_fare_program/

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.