Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 68.42
Liaison Austin Sutherland
Submission Date Feb. 18, 2025

STARS v2.2

University of Pennsylvania
OP-17: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Indego Bike Share
Penn promotes and partners with the Indego Bike Share program is an integrated system featuring over 600 self-service bicycles and 70 bike-share stations throughout Philadelphia. You can purchase a monthly pass or pay per trip. 

Penn has six stations on campus: 

  • 36th and Sansom Streets
  • 40th and Spruce Streets
  • 34th and Spruce
  • 34th and Chestnut
  • 3800 Spruce (Rosenthal Building)
  • Near the Penn Medicine Station Regional Rail Station

Does the institution participate in a car sharing program?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the car sharing program:
Penn works with one car-sharing company, ZipCar. This company offers the option of opening a personal account. Joining Zipcar through the University of Pennsylvania saves employees up to $55 on an annual membership. 
 
University ZipCar Website: https://www.zipcar.com/universities/university-of-pennsylvania 

Does the institution offer preferential parking or other incentives for fuel efficient vehicles?:
Yes

A brief description of the incentives for fuel efficient vehicles:
Penn Parking Services has designated some garage parking spaces for "Low Emission" and "Fuel-Efficient" vehicles. This effort, which is part of Penn’s Sustainable Transportation Initiative, supports members of the Penn Community who choose to drive low emission vehicles. The spaces are located near the entrance, exit, or elevators and are clearly delineated by signage. They are available to low emission and/or fuel-efficient vehicles until 10 AM each day. After 10 AM, other permit holders or paying visitors can use these spaces.
 
As a benefit to bike commuters who bike to work more than 50% of the time in each month, Penn has established a Bike Commuter Reimbursement Program (BCRP) to cyclists who bike to work more than 50% of the time. The BCRP offers bicycle commuting expenses to faculty and staff for any out-of-pocket eligible expenses, up to $240 annually. Unlike a flexible spending account, reimbursement comes directly from the University and is not set aside from pre-tax pay by the individual program participant. Information can be found at https://transportation.upenn.edu/resources-cyclists
 
Pedestrians can request a walking escort 24-hours a day, 365 days a year from the Division of Public Safety. Walking escorts provide services on the West Philadelphia campus and will accompany Penn staff, faculty, or students from one campus location to another, to a parked car, or to a mass transit stop.
 
Penn has extensive bus, shuttle and van service for faculty, staff, and students who live in downtown Philadelphia and has a comprehensive resource sharing agreement with several large adjacent institutions, including the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University City District, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Presbyterian Hospital, Drexel University and the FMC Tower. These organizations have reciprocal agreements so all staff from these institutions can use each other's bus and shuttle services (which include fixed route buses that run from 5 pm to midnight into Philadelphia's Center City West neighborhood to the east and to West Philadelphia neighborhoods to the west; door-to-door shuttle services that operate from 5pm to 3 am in the same service area, handi-vans that run on an as-needed basis any time of day, and free shuttles that run between the main campus, the partner hospitals, and Penn's Innovation Center about a mile away all day long. Any member of the Penn community may also use the free Drexel University shuttle and bus service, which has a different and slightly more expansive service area to Center City Philadelphia.
 
All of these transportation services are available at no cost to Penn students, faculty, or staff. For more information, see https://transportation.upenn.edu/penn-transit-services

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:

Penn Parking has twelve fully operational, on-campus electric vehicle charging stations supported by the Blink Network located in 3 different locations supporting both permit and commuter parking.


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:

The University’s commitment to urban revitalization and supporting the adjacent West Philly neighborhood is deeply rooted in an understanding that the health and vitality of the University is inextricably linked to maintaining a diverse, safe, and thriving urban community. For a complete summary of Penn's impact on the local community and economy, see: http://www.evp.upenn.edu/strategic-initiatives/community-and-economic-development/economic-impact-on-pennsylvania-and-philadelphia.html The following examples demonstrate mechanisms and policies created by Penn to help stabilize and enhance its neighboring West Philadelphia Community, indicating the breadth of support for the community.

The Office of Penn Home Ownership Services (PHOS) offers eligible employees the opportunity to apply for financing for home purchases as well as for funds for home rehabilitation in the West Philadelphia area. The department also offers refinancing options with lending partners, home improvement grants, loans, educational workshops, and a variety of other resources. Penn Home Ownership Services ensures that the University community receives quality services that will assist prospective buyers and current home owners in making informed decisions. Penn "Home Ownership Services" currently offers two programs - the "Enhanced Forgivable Loan Program" and the "Closing Cost Reduction Program". Since the University's commitment to local home ownership began in 1995, over 1400 individuals and families have participated in these programs.

Penn promotes its "Enhanced Forgivable Loan" (EFL), a $7,500 forgivable loan, as an incentive for faculty and staff interested in living and/or currently residing in the West Philadelphia community. These loans can be used for closing costs, down payment, to buy down points, and/or for interior or exterior home improvements. In addition, the loan can be used to convert a property from a multi-family to a single-family residence.

The "Closing Cost Reduction Program" (CCRP) offers mortgage financing options with discounted closing costs (.25% of mortgaged amount) to the University community for the purchase and refinancing of homes. In partnership with its current mortgage partners, PHOS can help eligible University and Health System employees save on closing costs when purchasing a home in West Philadelphia within Penn’s boundary area. For more information, see https://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/homeownership/phos-programs.html


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?:
Yes

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:
Penn encourages the use of public transportation. To assist commuters who choose to use public transportation, Penn offers discounted options and/or pre-tax benefits through its Commuter Benefits Program. Commuter benefits through Health Equity provide discounted options for transit providers; SEPTA, PATCO, NJTransit, AMTRAK, etc.; as well as discounts for Vanpool and Carpool. All programs are available to full-time University faculty and staff not participating in the parking permit program. More information can be found here: Commuter Benefits | Penn Transportation and Parking (upenn.edu)
 
Facilities and Real Estate Services provides a comprehensive list of bike racks and bike lanes on and near campus, available on an interactive Bicycle Resources map - https://www.facilities.upenn.edu/maps?location_type=All&search=bicycle&glid=&=Apply.
 
All of Penn's 62 bike corrals which provide parking for over 6,200 bikes are stationed around campus are equipped with video surveillance for security. Sheltered bike corrals are available at several locations on campus, and parking is also available in two parking garages on campus. Penn also provides four bike repair stations across campus. The University has been working with the City of Philadelphia and local organizations to encourage the expansion of bike lanes and protected bike lanes around campus. Penn also offers free shower/changing facilities for bike commuters.
 
In addition, Penn has extensive free shuttle bus and on demand shuttle service, which transport students, staff, and faculty throughout the nearby adjacent neighborhoods. A partnership between Penn and Drexel allows students, staff, and faculty to use both campus's services. Penn Transit offers a full service maintenance facility and recycles 100% of all vehicle fluids.
 
Penn participates in the "Emergency Ride Home", administered by the "Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission". The "Emergency Ride Home" service is a safety net for commuters who use public transit, carpool, or vanpool to work on a regular basis. In the event of an unexpected personal or family emergency or illness, unscheduled overtime, or if the regular ride home is not available for certain reasons, registered commuters are provided with a free ride to home, their car or to the place of the emergency.
 
Penn has a flexible work arrangement policy. Details are located here: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/wellness-worklife/flexible-hybrid-remote-work/guidelines-for-managing-and-working-flexibly
 
Guidelines for Managing and Working Flexibly (upenn.edu)
Guidelines for Managing and Working Flexibly
 

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s support for sustainable transportation is available:
https://transportation.upenn.edu/commuter-benefits-program

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.