| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.51 |
| Liaison | Mat Thijssen |
| Submission Date | Nov. 6, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Waterloo
OP-17: Employee Commute Modal Split
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.86 / 2.00 |
Mat
Thijssen Sustainability Manager Sustainability Office |
Total percentage of the institution’s employees that use more sustainable commuting options as their primary method of transportation:
A brief description of the method(s) used to gather data about employee commuting, including the timeframe for when the analysis was conducted and how a representative sample was reached, if applicable:
The modal split is based on a 2016 travel survey. Waterloo works with the Region of Waterloo to conduct annual travel surveys as part of a local Transportation Management Association. The questions are standardized across all participating employers and ask survey respondents for their primary mode of transportation, as well as their specific modal split to and from campus over the past week, and survey questions about services that could support their efforts to walk, cycle, take transit, and carpool. The surveys are run consistently in the fall to avoid seasonal bias as much as possible for active transportation. Over 630 replies from employees were received for the 2016 survey, reported here, allowing for statistically significant findings.
The percentage of the institution's employees that use each of the following modes as their primary means of transportation to and from campus::
| Percentage (0-100) | |
| Commute with only the driver in the vehicle (excluding motorcycles and scooters) | 57 |
| Walk, bicycle, or use other non-motorized means | 22 |
| Vanpool or carpool | 13 |
| Take a campus shuttle or public transportation | 8 |
| Use a motorcycle, scooter or moped | 0 |
| Telecommute for 50 percent or more of their regular work hours | 0 |
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:
Waterloo typically reports on modal split using the “trips over past week” data, which shows a slightly higher level of active and sustainable transportation than the primary mode of transportation (47% vs 43%). This is because employees may elect, within Waterloo’s work-from-home policy, to occasionally work from home or may walk/bike occasionally even if they are driving primarily. The survey collects information on both methodologies, however, so the "primary mode" methodology has been reported to STARS. Motorcycles were included in the drive-alone vehicle total as the number reported through surveys was extremely small and subject to inaccuracy.
Waterloo typically reports on modal split using the “trips over past week” data, which shows a slightly higher level of active and sustainable transportation than the primary mode of transportation (47% vs 43%). This is because employees may elect, within Waterloo’s work-from-home policy, to occasionally work from home or may walk/bike occasionally even if they are driving primarily. The survey collects information on both methodologies, however, so the "primary mode" methodology has been reported to STARS. Motorcycles were included in the drive-alone vehicle total as the number reported through surveys was extremely small and subject to inaccuracy.
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.