| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.66 |
| Liaison | Marianella Franklin |
| Submission Date | Sept. 20, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Rodney
Gomez Director Parking and Transportation |
Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
UTRGV Bicycle commuters can rent lockers, shower, and secure their bicycle at the University Wellness and Recreational Sports complex, which is accessible 7 days a week; Mon - Thurs 6:00am - 11:00pm; Friday 6:00am - 9:00pm; Saturday 8:00am - 8:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm - 7:00pm.
Additionally, the two Health & Physical Education buildings on the other side of campus are similarly equipped, with additional staff and faculty facilities.
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)?:
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
Short-term bicycle parking for all occupied buildings: YES
UTRGV - Edinburg campus has approximately 35 bicycle racks and 3 bike repair stations located within close proximity to all occupied buildings, residence halls, and throughout the campus. Students who live in apartments near campus are to be able to ride their bikes and get to class in 2 or 3 minutes rather than the 5 or 10-minute walking time. UTRGV - Brownsville campus similarly has enough bicycle racks to accommodate students' needs.
Long-term bicycle storage: NO
UTRGV students have not expressed a desire for long-term bicycle storage and responses to transportation surveys indicate that bicycle riders living on-site do not need to store bicycles long-term, as they do not own their bikes and make full use of UTRGV's and surrounding city's bike share programs.
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?:
A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
Section 3, General Traffic Regulations of the UTRGV Parking Rules and Regulations outline regulations to provide for the safety and welfare of students, employees, and
visitors and to ensure the integrity of the parking facilities and traffic access. It is a violation to commit any act prohibited by these regulations or to fail to do any act required by these regulations. The operation of a vehicle is restricted to the drives, streets, and parking lots on University property.
UTRGV’s Parking & Traffic Advisory Committee reviews parking and traffic regulations and develops recommendations for revisions in these regulations as are necessary to an efficient parking and traffic system as it relates to differential parking zones, parking fees, penalties for violations of regulations, arrangements for bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrian traffic.
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
The City of Edinburg has joined BikeShare Rio Grande Valley, a bike sharing program in use at UTRGV’s Brownsville, Harlingen and Edinburg campuses and in the cities of Brownsville and Harlingen.
The Edinburg City Council approved an agreement to join the program at its Jan. 3, 2017, meeting. The city will provide four more bike stations to accommodate those wanting an inexpensive, convenient and healthier travel alternative to an automobile.
“With the addition of Edinburg, we will now have 21 stations with 105 bikes throughout the Rio Grande Valley,” said Rodney Gomez, UTRGV director of Parking and Transportation Services.
BikeShare, a program initiated by UTRGV students as a class project, is available to the public and is managed by Zagster, Inc., a national company that manages bike share services. Zagster supplies the stations and bikes, as well as maintenance and technical assistance.
The bikes – all bright white cruisers equipped with lights, a reflector and bell – can be located via a free Zagster mobile phone app, or online at www.zagster.com/rgvbikeshare, which provides a code to unlock the bike. When the bike is returned to a bike station, the rental ends.
Users can pay an annual membership fee of $35 that allows unlimited trips under one hour to be free; a user would pay $2 per hour over the first hour and up to $10 per ride. Zagster also makes monthly and hourly memberships available.
Gomez said there are now 1,090 active members with a just under 4,000 trips provided since the bike service launched.http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/about-utrgv/news/press-releases/2017/february-06-edinburg-joins-valleywide-bikeshare-program-active-on-utrgv-campuses/index.htm
Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
A brief description of the mass transit programs:
In addition to campus shuttles, Parking & Transportation Services has partnered with local transit providers to provide additional connectivity throughout the Valley for faculty, staff, and students.
Valley Metro: Valley Metro operates routes throughout the entire Valley, including rural and urban areas. Students, faculty, and staff may ride on any Valley Metro route by showing their validated UTRGV ID Card upon boarding. For more information, visit their website at www.lrgvdc.org/valleymetro.
B Metro: B Metro operates routes within the city of Brownsville. Students may ride on any B Metro route by showing their validated UTRGV ID Card upon boarding. For more information, visit their website at bmetro.cob.us.
Other Providers: For $5 a day, a rider may purchase a pass good for rides anywhere in the Metro Connect route system, an express service linking the UTRGV Edinburg campus to the McAllen Central Station, Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, Harlingen bus terminal, and Brownsville La Plaza Terminal (near to the UTRGV Brownsville campus). For $25, a rider may purchase a 30-day pass. More information can be found on rgvmetroconnect.com.
Metro McAllen: Metro McAllen operates routes within the city of McAllen. The student fare is $0.50 upon boarding. A regular adult fare is $1. For more information, visit www.mcallen.net/metro.
http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/student-experience/parking/transportation/index.htm
As per UTRGV's Master Plan, Public Transportation - Vehicle Equipment and Essential Amenities:
All public transportation that made available to serve the new University shall be equipped with essential amenities that:
- Must be fully accessible to all riders;
- Must be equipped with satellite positioning device for location (GPS);
- Must be equipped with wireless web connections for portable media; - Must be equipped with charging stations for media equipment;
- Must be equipped with emergency communications;
- Must be equipped with tracking systems for ridership;
- Must be equipped with bike racks;
- Must be equipped with video surveillance
- Must have dynamic display screens to transmit information.
Existing public transportation vehicles currently in operation are equipped with most of the amenities listed above (except for charging stations for media equipment and wireless web connections on some services).
Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
A brief description of the guaranteed return trip 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?:
A brief description of the carpool/vanpool 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?:
A brief description of the car sharing program:
Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
A brief description of the condensed work week option:
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
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)?:
A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
UTRGV’s support for sustainable transportation works toward the sustainable development goal of sustainable cities and climate action by encouraging and promoting more sustainable modes of transportation and reducing the impact of student and employee commuting.
UTRGV’s support for sustainable transportation works toward the sustainable development goal of sustainable cities and climate action by encouraging and promoting more sustainable modes of transportation and reducing the impact of student and employee commuting.
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.