| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.89 |
| Liaison | Jennifer Andrews |
| Submission Date | Oct. 24, 2024 |
University of New Hampshire
OP-17: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.60 / 1.00 |
Steve
Pesci Special Projects Director Campus Planning |
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
UNH has had mutliple bike share programs over the years. Our most recent iteration is Cat Trax, a collaborative bike share program with a mission to make sustainable transportation more accessible on campus and in our surrounding commnity, Durham. With a fleet of 30 maintained bikes, and an app-based rental program, it's accessible free to anyone who has signed up on the app, anywhere in Durham. https://www.unh.edu/sustainability/bikeshare
In addtion, UNH Facilities runs a departmental bike share program specifically geared toward staff and faculty for travel around campus, with the goals of expanding staff mobility and efficiency; improving health and morale; reducing motor vehicle reliance; and enhancing our community bike culture. Bikes are purchased, owned and maintained by the sponsoring department, who are eligible for negotiated discounted rates through the chosen university vendor. Bikes are serviced by a local bike shop. Staff in participating departments get safety training. Three departments are participating with a current bike fleet count of eight. https://www.unh.edu/facilities/unh-departmental-bike-program
Does the institution participate in a car sharing program?:
UNH has been a ZipCar campus for more than a decade. However, in September 2024, ZipCar declined to renew the partnership; due to UNH/Durham's small size and geography, it was apparently an outlier in their network which posed elevated operational and vehicle service costs for them. UNH is currently looking for another car sharing service with which to partner.
Does the institution offer preferential parking or other incentives for fuel efficient vehicles?:
A brief description of the incentives for fuel efficient vehicles:
Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
One public Level 2 EV charging station is accessible to students and employee commuters.. It was installed in summer 2015; the University and its host community, the town of Durham, both contributed to the cost of the charging station, and it is located in a municipal lot adjacent to the heart of the UNH campus. In addition, UNH has Level 1 and Level 2 charging infrastructure for UNH fleet (only), and the University has plans to expand electrification of its vehicle fleet and charging infrastructure in the coming years. The University has been actively exploring options and funding for installing more EV charging station, applying for multiple grant opportunities. In 2018 the Energy Task Force formally adopted an electric vehicle (EV) charging policy, which was subsequently adopted by the Transportation Policy Committee as well, to help guide the University’s future efforts in this realm. The policy lays out EV infrastructure prioritization to accommodate UNH fleet and shared public access EVSE for commuters and visitors; it will direct future grant and direct investment plans.
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
While it does not qualify as a direct incentive based on STARS precedent, UNH DOES have such a program: We run a regional bus and shuttle service that is intentionally designed and operated to incentivize employees and students to live close to campus. The design and scheduling of its routes make it possible for those who live in or very near Durham (UNH's host community) to enjoy convenient, free transportation service within Durham and to desirable community and commercial destinations in five adjacent communities next door to Durham (Dover, Newmarket, Madbury, Newington and Portsmouth); a “guaranteed ride home” for riders; real time bus information through Umo and UNH Mobile app (formerly NextBus); and connection to regional transportation like Amtrak which provide convenient access to destinations far beyond campus without the expense or hassle of owning and operating one's own vehicle. In this way, UNH has provided an effective inducement for significant numbers of staff and faculty to elect to live in those communities closest to campus served by this WildCat transit system.
Does the institution have other programs or initiatives to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and/or reduce the impact of student and employee commuting?:
A brief description of other programs or initiatives to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and/or reduce the impact of student and employee commuting:
UNH’s commitment to sustainable transportation includes the way we manage our own fleet and support sustainable transportation options for our entire community. Under a framework of Transportation Demand Management (TDM), which seeks to reduce our use of single-occupancy vehicle private vehicles, UNH's Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) takes a holistic approach that includes expanded free transit services, increased on- or near-campus housing, development of improved transit and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, partnerships with sustainable transportation providers, and ongoing informational programs aimed at providing expanded mobility without private vehicle use. See https://www.unh.edu/transportation/about/transportation-policy-committee
Unique and notable is UNH's partnership with Amtrak, within which UNH invests approximately $30k/year to host a station stop, right on campus, for the Amtrak Downeaster route. UNH is one of only a handful of universities to have an Amtrak station on campus. The station accommodates over 60k passenger trips to/from Durham every year, including many daily commute trips for faculty, staff and some students who are coming south from Portland Maine (appr 60 miles) or north from metro Boston.
Our goal is maximizing mobility and accessibility in a climate protection framework that emphasizes health and safety, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, equity, accessibility and sustainability. UNH actively works with the state Department of Transportation and regional MPO to coordinate transit and intermodal transportation activities and is a critical player in the regional transit system which connects eight communities to Durham, providing over 1.2 million passenger trips per year.
UNH also collects data on its transportation systems (transit, vehicle fuel consumption, mileage) and community transportation needs and behaviors as a way of benchmarking and tracking progress in its sustainable transportation system goals. This data collection allows us to measure effectiveness versus peer institutions. Reports and publications can be found on the TPC website. https://www.unh.edu/transportation/about/transportation-policy-committee
Carpool and ride-share programs: UNH supports ride-sharing and carpooling and carpooling through provision of a dedicated carpool lot centrally located on campus. See https://www.unh.edu/transportation/other-services/carpooling.
There is a UNH Wildcat Rides Facebook Page promoted by the campus transportation office through which potential riders can connect. https://www.facebook.com/groups/UNHWildcatRides/
UNH employees and students are also encouraged to participate in the CommuteSmart Challenge offered through a local nonprofit CommuteSmart Seacoast. https://commutesmartseacoast.org/.
UNH saw success with a transition toward remote work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and is continuing to provide this option for employees whose work is able to be successfully completed remotely. To facilitate this process, the University offers Flexible Work Arrangement Policies. Employees interested in some version of a hybrid and/or remote work arrangement complete a form and then work with their managers to assess and, if appropriate, implement flexible remote work arrangements. See https://www.usnh.edu/policy/usy/v-personnel-policies/c-employment#usyvc21flex
Optional Fields
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.