| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.18 |
| Liaison | Ezra Small |
| Submission Date | Feb. 5, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Massachusetts Amherst
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Ezra
Small Sustainability Manager Physical Plant |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
Bicycles can be housed securely within many of the dorms or buildings on campus. There is also a student run business, the Bike Co-Op, for bike repair on campus.
We provide many showers at UMass Amherst, and there are locker facilities in our gym. Green Building Researchers have mapped out every bike storage facility (bike racks, bike lockers, etc) and all of the available showers for bike commuters on the interactive Campus Sustainability Explorer available on the Sustainable UMass website.
None
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
None
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
UMass Amherst has bike loops everywhere and continues to install more loops each year. In 2014 the Sustainable UMass office sent out a bicycle loop survey to ask students where the new bicycle loops should be placed. There is a bike loop layer (which may be slightly outdated) on our Sustainability Explorer interactive map here: http://maps.umass.edu/apps/sustainability/cse/.
None
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
None
A brief description of the bicycle/pedestrian policy and/or network:
Complete Streets and Pedestrian spine plans are being implemented through the Campus Master Plan here: http://www.umass.edu/cp/MPFinal.pdf. See page 105 for pedestrain spine map, and page 111 for "Think Pedestrian First" mention of complete streets, bicycle and transit accomodation along roads.
None
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
UMass Student Government started the UMass Amherst Bike Share Program in Spring 2011. Students, faculty, and staff can check out bikes for their use from the Student Government Office from March-November.
None
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?:
No
None
A brief description of the certification, including date certified and level:
UMass Amherst is a "honorable mention" campus.
http://www.umass.edu/sustainability/green-campus/bicycle-friendly-university
None
Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the mass transit program(s), including availability, participation levels, and specifics about discounts or subsidies offered (including pre-tax options):
For students and faculty the PVTA Bus system is free during the school year. The on campus shuttles remain free all year to students and faculty.
None
Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip (GRT) program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
No
None
A brief description of the GRT program:
---
None
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
None
A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:
The UMass Rideshare Program provides an alternative to single occupancy vehicles by assisting UMass employees and off-campus students in forming carpools. The goals of the UMass Rideshare Program are to reduce commuter traffic on campus, improve the environment and air quality of the region, and offer an alternative to full-cost UMass parking permits.
Rideshare services are offered free of charge to any employee or off-campus student on the Amherst campus. Services offered include carpool matching, Guaranteed Ride Home, and commuter information on transit services and park and ride lots.
None
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
None
A brief description of the car sharing program:
UMass Amherst has ZipCar: http://www.zipcar.com/umass
None
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
None
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
UMass Amherst has the first Level III charging station in the state of Massachusetts at the transit center. It has 6 total Level II charging stations across campus.
http://www.umass.edu/sustainability/green-campus/electric-vehicles-and-charging-stations
None
Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
The University recognizes that in order to attract, retain, and develop highly skilled employees and partner with the Union on promoting a clean environment, there may be times when it is in the best interest of both the University and the employee to consider options beyond traditional work locations and schedules. This flexibility must always meet the needs of the individual campus business units. The University’s commitment to this flexibility does not mean that every employee is entitled to a flexible work option. The nature of the work and/or the needs of the University may preclude a flexible work arrangement. Flexibility is appropriate where both the needs of the University and the needs of the employee are met.
Upon request of a bargaining unit member, the supervisor may grant, for a specific period of time, or for an unspecified time (subject to a cancellation by the supervisor) a flexible personal work schedule, a compressed work week, or an alternative work site/telecommuting schedule, so long as the bargaining unit member can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the supervisor that the proposed schedule will not interfere with or detract from the delivery of services provided or the day to day operation of the department. Such request shall not be unreasonably denied.
None
Does the institution offer a condensed work week option for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the condensed work week program:
The University recognizes that in order to attract, retain, and develop highly skilled employees and partner with the Union on promoting a clean environment, there may be times when it is in the best interest of both the University and the employee to consider options beyond traditional work locations and schedules. This flexibility must always meet the needs of the individual campus business units. The University’s commitment to this flexibility does not mean that every employee is entitled to a flexible work option. The nature of the work and/or the needs of the University may preclude a flexible work arrangement. Flexibility is appropriate where both the needs of the University and the needs of the employee are met.
Upon request of a bargaining unit member, the supervisor may grant, for a specific period of time, or for an unspecified time (subject to a cancellation by the supervisor) a flexible personal work schedule, a compressed work week, or an alternative work site/telecommuting schedule, so long as the bargaining unit member can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the supervisor that the proposed schedule will not interfere with or detract from the delivery of services provided or the day to day operation of the department. Such request shall not be unreasonably denied.
None
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
UMass Transit operates PVTA buses within a 10-mile radius of campus for the towns of Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Northampton, South Hadley, and Sunderland. These bus routes are fare-free for staff and faculty.
None
Does the institution have other incentives or programs to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and reduce the impact of student and employee commuting?:
No
None
A brief description of other sustainable transportation initiatives and programs:
---
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable transportation program(s) is available:
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.