Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.96
Liaison Stephanie Corbett
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Case Western Reserve University
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Support for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
Veale Convocation, Athletic and Recreation Center has secure, covered bicycle parking, shower facilities and lockers (either year-long rentals or first come first serve) that are available for use by bicycle commuters. The Wyant Field House also offers shower facilities and lockers available for use by bicycle commuters on the other end of campus. Several additional buildings on campus have shower and locker facilities. Additionally, The City of Cleveland has an ordinance requiring all covered parking facilities offer bike racks for public use, and therefore all CWRU covered parking structures also have indoor bike racks.

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)?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
Per statute, all covered parking facilities on campus offer indoor bike racks for public use. All of the residence halls provide an indoor, secure bike storage facility for student use. CWRU has over 160 bike racks available on campus.

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
CWRU is an urban campus that is fully integrated, with all buildings and transit locations being accessible by sidewalks and paths, most of which are accessible by bike.

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:
Cleveland has a bike-sharing program called UH Bikes that was rolled out in the summer of 2016. Stations have been expanding across the city and four stations have been installed on the CWRU campus. UH Bikes also offers an education rate to encourage the entire CWRU community to join the network.

Mass Transit Programs 

Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the mass transit programs:
CWRU has free campus loop and evening shuttles; it also partners with Greater Cleveland RTA to offer discounted unlimited bus & train pass as follows: Undergrads $25/semester, $70/summer; Graduate students pay $75/semester or summer. Undergrad passes are automatically provided and deducted for student's accounts. Faculty and staff may purchase RTA monthly passes as pre-tax benefits deducted from paychecks. Additionally, staff earning less than $50,000 per year are eligible to purchase monthly RTA passes at a a 50% reduced rate. This program is subsidized by the University. (http://www.case.edu/access-services/other-transportation/public-transportation/)

Guaranteed Return Trip Program 

Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
No

A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
While the University does not have a GRT program, our Regional Transit Authority (RTA) does offer a Guaranteed Ride Home program, where they promise to provide a ride home via bus, cab or special dispatched vehicle to riders if they need to leave early for an emergency, or stay late for unexpected work. http://www.riderta.com/programs/commuteradvantage

Carpool/Vanpool Programs 

Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
Yes

A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:
A carpool matching service is offered to the University community through the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency free of charge, Ohio Ride Share. (http://www.gohiocommute.com) This program has been relaunched this spring after significant improvements. Additionally, any CWRU employee is able to access shared vanpool, accessible via the link provided.

Car Sharing 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?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the car sharing program:
Enterprise CarShare is a membership-based, automated car-share rental option that offers a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective transportation alternative to the CWRU community. Vehicles can be rented by the hour, daily, and overnight. Program pricing includes gasoline, as well as a mileage allowance. CarShare is a program of university-preferred vendor Enterprise Rent-A-Car. There are currently vehicles located in 3 campus parking locations for easy access. (http://www.case.edu/access-services/other-transportation/enterprise-carshare/) The CWRU also has access to several zipcars that are maintained by the Community Development Corporation, University Circle Inc., with whom CWRU partners frequently. (http://www.universitycircle.org/locations/zipcar-10831-magnolia-dr)

EV Recharging Stations 

Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
There are three Level 3 EV recharging station located in a campus garage, accessible to student and employee commuters.

Telecommuting and Condensed Work Week Programs 

Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
CASEworks (telecommuting) - CASEworks can offer Case employees an alternative work arrangement option of structured flexibility in their work environment. Full-time or part-time staff employees may request participation in and receive approval to work-at-home and/or at an approved remote location for part or all of their scheduled work week. This alternate work arrangement offers a unique opportunity to cultivate a rewarding career and professional relationships while balancing modern work-related stresses such as daily commutes and family demands. Requests for utilizing the CASEworks telecommuting alternative work option are reviewed and determined on an individual basis.

Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week option:
Compressed Work Week - The supervisor must approve the alternative work arrangement option; potential compressed work week schedules include: Exempt Four-day Work week, Non-Exempt Four-day Work week (37.5 Hours), Non-Exempt Four-day Work week – (40 Hours), Exempt 9/80, Non-Exempt 9/80 (75 Hours), Non-Exempt 9/80 (80 Hours).

Other Strategies to Reduce the Impacts of Commuting 

Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
The Greater Circle Living program offers a $5,000 forgivable loan for down payment and/or closing costs for the purchase of an owner-occupied home by fulltime employees of any nonprofit institution—including Case Western Reserve University—in Greater University Circle, a district encompassing portions of seven Cleveland neighborhoods. Employees of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Museum of Art, Judson at University Circle and University Hospitals may be eligible for an additional $10,000 forgivable loan for down payment or closing costs for the purchase of an owner-occupied home, or one month's rental reimbursement in Greater University Circle.

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)?:
No

A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
---

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://case.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/greening-transportation/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
CWRU was awarded the Commuter Choice Award at the Gold level, in addition to the Most Improved award, by the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency in 2015. In 2016, CWRU worked with the city of Cleveland and NOACA to review the Commuter Choice Award program to make the requirements more rigorous. We were awarded a silver level award in 2016. In 2015, CWRU was awarded the Commuter Choice Award at the Gold level, in addition to the Most Improved award, by the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency (NOACA) in 2015. Previously, CWRU was CWRU had been given the Commuter Choice Award at the bronze level in 2014. The Commuter Choice Award program is application-based and rewards area organizations and businesses that support sustainable transportation choices. (http://www.noaca.org/index.aspx?page=3342)

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.