The University is trying to “go green” in many aspects of its operations. Yet most of UVA’s 10,000 full-time staff continue to drive their own vehicle to and from work, despite efforts to offer alternatives.
Over the course of the last academic year, UVA Parking and Transportation has unveiled a series of new programs geared to free people from their single-car commuting habits.
“We are very proud of our smart bike and transit map,” says Michael Goddard, transportation demand management programs manager.
Goddard, along with members of the student group Green Grounds and reps from the Office of the University Architect, rode around the city to test the quietest routes. “We don’t like to say ‘safe’ and ‘dangerous,’” he says. “It’s about what roads will not lead to bike/car conflict.” A new version of the bike and transit map is coming out in the fall that shows additional routes, covered bike parking and bike maintenance stops.
“The UVA Bookstore is going to start selling bike parts, too,” says Goddard. “As a cyclist myself, it is very hard to find bike parts on campus and that’s a deterrent.” UVA is also spending $27,000 to install bike racks on all University Transit System (UTS) buses and inside the 11th Street garage.
These improvements invite the question: Just how many employees can avoid driving their own cars to the University?
According to a recent staff survey, 77.4 percent drive alone, 9.8 percent carpool, 6.5 percent use city or University buses, 2.2 percent bike to and from work and 2 percent walk. The number of mass transit users could be higher: About 33 percent live within a 5-minute walk from a bus stop. Many others could carpool: About 10 percent live in the Ruckersville area, with 5 percent living in Crozet/Batesville and 5 percent living in the Lake Monticello area.
Parking and Transportation Director Rebecca White says the University is investing to make riding Charlottesville Transit Service (CTS) more appealing.
“We spent $191,000 to bring the free-fare transit option to UVA employees and students,” White says. “All you have to do is show your UVA I.D. and ride for free.”
In addition, the University is spending $450,000 over five years to equip its buses with GPS gadgets that track where the bus is on the route.
But some new programs have yet to gain traction. CAVpool is a program started in July to incentivize carpooling, allowing employees to get preferential parking spaces, and depending on the level of involvement, discounts on parking rates and free one-time permits.
Jan Cornell, president of the Staff Union at UVA, says the program is creating confusion and frustration. “It’s too complicated,” says Cornell. “Plus, folks have to give up their current permits, which, in many cases, took them years to get, especially at the close-in lots.”
After applying for the permit, carpoolers must decide on a primary rider, who has to fill out the registration form and begin a training process. There are some cumbersome rules for the amount of discounts on permits, where to park and on the number of occasional permits per rider. So far, 40 carpools are in place, according to White.
“It’s still a work in progress,” says Goddard. But the potential for people to start using the alternatives is high, says White. “People will shift to what mode of transportation works best for them,” she says. “We still have a vast range of additional services that will be implemented throughout the year.”
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