Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.78
Liaison Emily Vollmer
Submission Date Feb. 18, 2021

STARS v2.2

Virginia Tech
OP-17: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.60 / 1.00 Nick Quint
Transportation Network Manager
Alternative Transportation
"---" 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:
Virginia Tech has partnered with area localities on the Roam New River Valley regional bike share system. The system has 75 bikes spread across 12 stations, with plans to double the size of the system by the end of 2020.

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

None
A brief description of the car sharing program:
Virginia Tech has partnered with Zipcar to bring self–service, on–demand car sharing to the area.

Does the institution offer preferential parking or other incentives for fuel efficient vehicles?:
No

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?:
No

None
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
---

Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
No

None
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
---

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:
The Bike, Bus, and Walk (BBW) permit is available to Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students who use alternative transportation as their primary means of commuting to campus. It provides 16 reduced-price daily parking permits per semester, to allow for flexibility when commuting via alternative transportation is not preferred.

The Employee Vanpool Program allows participants to rent a van from Fleet Services, reserve a parking space near the driver’s office, and share the monthly costs which are payroll deducted using pretax dollars. Maintenance is included and participants are able to fuel inexpensively at Fleet Services’ fuel pump.

The Hokie Bike Hub serves as a bicycle maintenance and commuter education center. Virginia Tech affiliates have free access to tools and resources for self-service bike repair. Cyclists can also attend bike-themed workshops or learn how to maintain and repair bikes through one-on-one sessions with Alternative Transportation staff.

The carpool permit is available to two or more students/employees who register together. The permit has a reduced cost when compared to the cost of two typical permits. It allows people to park in designated, preferred spaces on campus.

Smart Way Express is a free bus service for Virginia Tech affiliates travelling between the Blacksburg campus and Roanoke. Aside from the Blacksburg area, the Roanoke region is where the majority of Virginia Tech employees live. This service also provides a connection to Virginia Tech’s medical campus in Roanoke.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s support for sustainable transportation is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://parking.vt.edu/alternative/Walk/bbw.html
https://parking.vt.edu/alternative/Bike/BikeShare.html
https://parking.vt.edu/alternative/Bike/hokie-bike-hub.html
https://parking.vt.edu/alternative/ride-share/vanpooling.html
https://parking.vt.edu/permits/commuter-alternatives-program.html
https://smartwaybus.com/swx.html

The Department of Alternative Transportation also sends out a monthly e-newsletter about sustainable methods of transportation called "The Parking Spot." Examples of topics covered include parking restrictions for certain days, ideas for methods of getting home for the holidays (e.g. SmartWay Bus), and announcements about challenges and initiatives to encourage biking. Here is the October issue: https://mailchi.mp/c7e8e2925b00/the-parking-spot-november-virginia-tech-parking-and-transportation-news-3572126?e=e381502b2f

Virginia Tech has been cited as one of the 2021 Best Workplaces for Commuters in offering outstanding commuter programs and benefits to students and employees. Best Workplaces for Commuters is an innovative membership program that provides qualified workplaces, universities, and sites with national recognition for providing exceptional commuter benefits. Virginia Tech is one of 41 universities to receive the honor in 2021. More information can be found here: https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2021/02/transpo-commuterworkplace.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_020221-fs and the press release from Best Workplaces for Commuters can be found here: https://www.bestworkplaces.org/list-of-bwc-workplaces/2021-list-breaks-all-time-record/

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.