| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.72 |
| Liaison | Greg Maginn |
| Submission Date | Jan. 18, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
The Ohio State University
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Beth
Snoke Director Transportation and Traffic Management |
Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
To aid in the effort to encourage use of alternative transportation The Recreation & Physical Activity Center (RPAC), the Ohio State Student Union, and other campus facilities offer secure bicycle parking and showers facilities to cyclists who visit these central campus locations.
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)?:
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
To aid in the effort to encourage use of alternative transportation The Ohio State University
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?:
A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
The Ohio State University has a 1882 acre campus with road network of over 16.85 centerline miles, of which 9.15 miles fall under control of the university itself. The university employs campus-wide traffic calming strategies (speed limits of 20 mph or less), way finding signage with distance and or time information, and when intersection traffic signals are demand-activated, there are a loop detector makings or bike-accessible push buttons installed. Currently OSU has more than 6.90 miles of shared-use paths (6.15 miles are paved), with a proposed additional 4.5 miles being actively planned. There are more than 3.35 miles of signed bike routes, 4.5 miles of shared lane markings (sharrows), and approximately 8,425 bike parking spaces available (including long term parking options such as covered bike parking and or bike lockers)
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
The bike share program launched in September of 2015, provides a safe and sustainable alternative transportation option for the University community. The program offers 115 bicycles at 15 campus locations. In addition to the 100 commuter bicycles in the fleet, 15 of the bicycles in the system are alternative bicycles, including side-by-side tandems, hand cycles, and heavy duty and three-wheels cargo bikes.
Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
A brief description of the mass transit programs:
The Ohio State University offers reduced price transit passes to faculty and staff. These passes are sold on behalf of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) by the Office of Transportation and Traffic Management at a $5.00 discount off their regular prices. Students pay a mandatory $13.50 per semester fee which allows them unlimited travel on all COTA routes.
Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program is a free service that reassures RideSolutions commuters won't be stranded at work in the case of emergency, unexpected overtime, or in the absence of their driver. Registered RidesSolutions commuters can be reimbursed after submitting the GRH voucher.
GRH is a free to registered RideSolutions commuters who carpool, van-pool, ride public transportation, bike or walk to and from work every day or occasionally. Once registered, commuters receive a GRH voucher which can be used up to four times per year to reimburse 90% of the cab fare home, plus up to a 18% tip.
If you find yourself in need of an emergency ride home, simply call the taxi service provider most convenient for you. Remember to request a receipt from the taxi driver, and mail the original receipt in with your signed GRH voucher.
Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:
The Ohio State University offers (OCCSE maintains) a free online rideshare and carpool listing service for Ohio State students at offcampus.osu.edu that is available only to Ohio State students, faculty and staff. Users may post ads for carpools (ongoing regular ride arrangements between several persons from a designated area to campus) or rideshares (a one-time, possibly round-trip, ride arrangement with another person or persons) as either drivers or passengers.
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?:
A brief description of the car sharing program:
The university participates in the Car2Go car-sharing program available across Columbus, including on the Ohio State campus. Distinctive blue and white smart cars are available at 45 reserved parking spaces throughout campus for short-term car use around Central Ohio at an hourly rate. Online registration is required.
Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
The Ohio State University has installed approximately 15 level-2 electric vehicle charging stations available to the campus community and the general public. These include a mix of 'ReCharge Power' charging stations and GE charging station models. The utilization of the electric vehicle charging stations has greatly exceeded levels originally envisioned, and OSU is currently working to install more charging stations in the near future.
Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
The university supports flexible work arrangements to achieve a highly productive work environment that enables staff to balance work and personal needs while providing workforce predictability and stability. Workplace flexibility is a strategy for using resources most efficiently and providing the best environment for talent.” One such work arrangement allows “Flexible Work Options,” including, telecommuting or flexplace where some or all work hours are completed at a location other than the traditional campus workplace.
Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
A brief description of the condensed work week option:
The university strongly encourages the use of flexible work arrangements as one approach to supporting staff and their work/life effectiveness, to improving staff morale, and to recruiting and retaining a high quality workforce.” Many units have interpreted this policy to include flextime, compressed work week, or telecommuting.
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
In an effort to increase the level of homeownership in the University District, The Ohio State University developed a down payment assistance program in 1998 for its faculty and staff for the purpose of purchasing homes within the neighborhoods of the University District. In 2017, this program was expanded to include the historic Near East Side where the University and its partners made a commitment to revitalize one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods—home to University Hospital East and CarePoint. The down payment assistance is an $8,000 forgivable loan to be used toward the purchase of a home in the Incentive Area is available to eligible employees of The Ohio State University. To following critera must be met to be eligible for the Homeownership Incentive Program:
• Be an employee of The Ohio State University - All faculty and staff who are employees of OSU (must be regularly receiving paychecks from OSU) with regular appointments of 50% FTE or greater.
• It must be the applicants primary residence - The home must serve as the recipient’s principal residence and can be single family, 2 to 4 family, condominium or new construction dwelling.
• It must be located within the Incentive Area
https://hr.osu.edu/benefits/homeownership-incentives/
https://www.eastpact.org/osuhomeownership
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)?:
A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.