
Improved Commuting
Category: Improved Commuting, Transportation
Improved commuting programs seek to transition students, faculty, and staff from single occupancy vehicles to public transportation and carpooling. Common areas of focus include better bus lines to campus, carpool lots, and subsidizing public transit passes.
Benefits
- Makes getting to campus less stressful and more accessible for students, faculty and staff
- Can promote better community relationships by addressing regional traffic and transportation issues
- Alleviates parking and traffic constraints
Challenges
- There is no guarantee individuals will change their commuting behavior even with incentives
- Typically involves capital-intensive transportation infrastructure upgrades
- Overcoming cultural/social stigmas associated with public transportation/lots of marketing

Impacts
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GHG Impact
Low
More InfoCommuting is often the largest single source of emissions for campuses with a large commuter population.
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Economic Impact
Small Net Cost
More InfoAvoided construction of parking stalls is the most common avoided cost.
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Feasibility
Difficult
More InfoGetting people to change their commuting preferences is easier said than done.
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Timeline
1-2 years
More InfoSome programs can be rolled out quickly, but changing transportation culture is a long-term project.
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Maintenance
High
More InfoStaff need to run awareness campaigns, manage regional partnerships and perform analysis of commuting patterns.
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Publicity
Under the radar
More InfoCarpooling is not likely to grab headlines. But things like shared campus bikes or lime/bird scooters get people more interested
Resources
- Campus Sustainability Best Practices: A Resource for Colleges and Universities (page 9)
- University of Manitoba In a nutshell: Commuting to the U of M
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: Careful Campus Planning Means Safe, Sustainable Commuting
- Berkeley Office of Sustainability and Energy: Transportation
- National Park Service: How You Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Transportation Choices
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Transportation
- American Public Transport Association: Public Transportation Reduces Greenhouse Gases and Conserves Energy