Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.56
Liaison Ruairi O'Mahony
Submission Date Feb. 15, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Massachusetts Lowell
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Ruairi O'Mahony
Executive Director
Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy
"---" 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:

UMass Lowell offers a suite of options for bicycle commuters. Shower facilities and lockers are co-located at numerous locations across the campus for faculty, staff and student commuters. Additionally, we offer a suite of short-term and long-term bike parking options.


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

UMass Lowell has great bicycle parking coverage across its campuses, students can also store their bikes in their residence halls.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:

UMass Lowell worked with the City of Lowell to adopt a Complete Streets Policy in 2015. More information on the process can be found here: https://www.lowellma.gov/1010/Complete-Streets

Furthermore, the university works closely with the city to implement a variety of transportation infrastructure improvements.


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:

UMass Lowell has the Freewheelers bike sharing program. This program provides free bicycles for students, faculty and staff. Once a person is registered, he/she can check out and return a bike at any of the campus check-out stations. Bicycles are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and the program has continued to expand year-over-year. More information cam be found at uml.edu/bike


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 programs:

UMass Lowell offers free intercampus transportation to all students, faculty and staff. Additionally, the university offers all faculty, staff and students free LRTA bus service and free MVRTA service on the Haverhill line connecting our satellite campus to the main campus in Lowell.


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

A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:

University employees who take a sustainable mode of transportation two days per week or more are eligible to sign up for a free Emergency Ride Home program.


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:

UMass Lowell has a carpooling program that allows members to split the costs of parking permits. The MassRIDES Commute program will provide matches of potential carpoolers. Preferred parking is an example of one reward offered for carpooling.


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:

UMass Lowell participates in Zipcar, an on-campus, on-demand car rental service.
http://www.uml.edu/student-services/Transportation-Services/Sustainable-
Transportation/zipcar.aspx


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:

UMass Lowell has a total of seven Level 2 EV charging stations across campus.


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:

Some university union contracts offer the opportunity to telecommute, upon manager's discretion.


Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
No

A brief description of the condensed work week option:
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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:

UMass Lowell instituted a 'Live-in-Lowell' program in 2015: https://www.uml.edu/HR/Employee-Benefits/Benefited-Employees/Live-In-Lowell-Program.aspx


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:

Preferred parking is offered for both zero-emission and fuel efficient vehicles across the university.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.