Miami University
OP-16: Student Commute Modal Split

Transportation estimations were calculated using GIS software. Address data was obtained through Institutional Research. Address data included variables for whether the address was for a student, faculty, and staff, as well as full time/part time status for faculty and staff. Using this data, the Sustainability Department partnered with the Geography department, where Ian Berg, a student in the Geography department mapped all addresses and calculated each addresses’ distance from the University’s address in Roudebush Hall. To better predict commuting patterns, we made some assumptions: Assumption 1: All students living in a dorm are walkers. Freshman and Sophomores are unable to have a vehicle on campus and 95% of all Freshman and Sophomores live in residential halls. Assumption 2: All people living within the Mile Square, a geographical boundary around campus, are walkers. Assumption 3: All students living outside of the Mile Square and not in a dorm are driving to campus 4 days a week for 30 weeks total (15 in Fall and 15 in Spring). Assumption 4: All full staff living outside of the Mile Square are driving to campus 5 days a week for 50 weeks. This assumes one full week vacation, as well as having a week off in the holidays. Assumption 5: All part-time staff living outside of the Mile Square are driving to campus 3 days a week for 50 weeks. This assumes one full week vacation, as well as having a week off in the holidays. Assumption 6: All full-time faculty living outside of the Mile Square are driving to campus 5 days a week for 46 weeks. We determined 46 weeks based on the academic calendar: 15 weeks for Fall, 15 weeks for Spring, 4-week Winter term, and 12-week Summer term. Assumption 7: All part-time faculty living outside of the Mile Square are driving to campus 3 days a week for 46 weeks. We determined 46 weeks based on the academic calendar: 15 weeks for Fall, 15 weeks for Spring, 4-week Winter term, and 12-week Summer term. From these assumptions, we estimated the total driven mileage by all students, staff, and faculty in FY2018. This analysis was only able to determine estimations for commuting and walking patterns. Miami University patterns with BCTRA for bus service. Since our analysis does not reflect patterns of bus use, we include total mileage in our GHG inventory to reflect this use.