Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.27
Liaison Suchi Daniels
Submission Date Feb. 22, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of South Florida (Tampa)
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Sara J. Hendricks, AICP
Senior Research Associate
Center for Urban Transportation Research
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Support for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

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:
TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 30, 2016) – The University of South Florida was recognized on Tuesday as a Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) by the League of American Bicyclists. The university received the organization’s Silver level award for the campus in Tampa, joining more than 150 colleges and universities from across the country. The Bicycle Friendly University program recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bikeable campus for students, staff and visitors. The BFU program evaluates applicants’ efforts to promote bicycling in five primary areas: engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement and evaluation/planning, known as the Five E's. With Tuesday’s announcement of 51 new and renewing BFUs from 25 states, USF joins a cutting-edge group of colleges and universities transforming their campuses and surrounding communities. There are now a total of 164 BFUs in 44 states and Washington, D.C.

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

None
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
2015 – 2025 CAMPUS MASTER PLAN UPDATE Objective 4.5: Preserve and amend existing street and major utility corridors to ensure adequate utility access compatible with implementation of planned development, open space framework, and non‐vehicular circulation. Policy 4.5.2: The University shall preserve existing street corridors for circulation and open space use. In support of sustainable planning principles a more pedestrian dominated core, improved campus wayfinding, and increased pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety, roadway modifications are recommended, as follows:

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:
2015 – 2025 CAMPUS MASTER PLAN UPDATE Policy 4.8.8: The University shall coordinate through the Office of Facilities Planning and Construction with the City of Tampa, City of Temple Terrace, Hillsborough County and FDOT to construct pedestrian/bicycle linkages between USF and adjacent neighborhoods and edge conditions. Policy 4.8.9: Storage and non‐vehicle trip generating support space shall be allowed at the Golf Course and Riverfront Park.

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:
Share-a-Bull Bikes will enhance transportation options with cutting-edge bikes around campus available 24/7. Use them to get around campus, go to class, run errands or just for fun! Convenient hubs will be positioned in high traffic locations around campus. Primarily for on campus use. $50 fee for locking (not holding) off campus. Bikes are available year-round with the exception of the official campus closing in December. An enjoyable, safe and emissions-free way to travel while increasing physical activity. https://usf.socialbicycles.com/

Mass Transit Programs 

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:
All USF students, faculty and staff have fare free access to the Bull Runner with their USFCard. The Shuttle system is intended to provide USF faculty, staff and students with mobility options for transportation on campus and designated locations outside the University proper. The Bull Runner provides easy transfers to the USF subsidizes riding HART public transit system by offering U-Pass. Students ride HART for free and faculty/staff ride for $0.25 with USF ID card, please see: http://www.gohart.org/Pages/fares-usfu-pass.aspx

Guaranteed Return Trip Program 

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:
TBARTA’s Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program provides free* taxi rides home in case of emergency for workers or students who commute in ways other than driving alone two or more days a week. This commuter incentive program is now available to students of higher learning institutions, who get to/from campus in ways other than driving alone (such as carpool, bus, bicycle, walk, and/or any combination of those listed). http://www.tampabayrideshare.org/usf

Carpool/Vanpool Programs 

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:
USF's New Carpool program: • To reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in and around the campus • To reduce demand for parking on the USF Tampa campus • To increase the number of Carpool, Emergency Ride Home (ERH) and WeCar participants • To provide a benefit for USF faculty, staff and students through reduced commuting costs http://www.usf.edu/administrative-services/parking/documents/car_pool_policy.pdf

Car Sharing Program 

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:
USF Zimride helps you offer or request rides for commutes, road trips, and popular events. If you have a car, split costs by offering rides. If you don’t have a car, find rides where you need to go It allows those with a car to split costs by offering rides. USF faculty, staff, and students are also eligible for the Emergency Ride Home Program through the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, Please see: https://zimride.com/usf

EV Recharging Stations 

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:
USF Tampa Campus currently has 4 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as part of the ChargePoint Network. ChargePoint is the world's largest and most open electric vehicle charging network with over 25,300 locations. http://www.usf.edu/administrative-services/parking/parking/ev-charging-stations.aspx

Telecommuting and Condensed Work Week Programs 

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:
Telecommuting is a work arrangement, either full-time or part-time, whereby eligible university employees are authorized by appropriate management to regularly perform the normal duties and responsibilities of their positions, through the use of computers and other telecommunications, at sites other than their usual place of work. See: http://usfweb2.usf.edu/human-resources/employee-relations/telecommuting.asp The USF Division of Human Resources provides detailed procedures for implementing telecommuting.

Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week option:
USF employees may request a non-standard work week through the Human Resources Website. The USF Center for Urban Transportation Research, as one example, offers three options to their employees: 1) 4.5/40 - during a 1-week period, work 9 hours each on 4 days, work 4 hours on one specified day per week (that day must be the same every week; Tuesdays are not allowed). 2) 9/80 - during a 2-week period, work 9 hours on 8 days, work 8 hours on 1 day, take off one specified day every two weeks (that day must be the same every two weeks; Tuesdays are not allowed). 3) 4/40 - work 10 hours on 4 days, take off one specified day every week (that day must be the same every week; Tuesdays are not allowed).

Other Strategies to Reduce the Impacts of Commuting 

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 Campus Bull Runner includes over 10 miles through neighborhoods off-campus where dozens of apartment buildings are located catering to students and faculty: See map: http://www.usf.edu/administrative-services/parking/documents/bull-runnermap.pdf

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:
The USF bus system is known as the Bull Runner and with a valid USFCard, students, faculty and staff have fare free access. Visitors must be accompanied by someone with a valid USFCard or have a daily bus pass. Please refer to our web site for current information and route schedules. In additon there are alternative transportation options established at USF: Borrow Our Bikes, USF Carpool Program, Enterprise CarShare, HART U-Pass, New North Transportation Alliance, Tampa BayCycle, Tampa Bay Ride Share, Emergency Ride Home (ERH), Red Coach, & Zimride

Optional Fields 

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:
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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.