Tufts University
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation

On the Medford/Somerville campus, bike racks, shower facilities, and lockers are all available at the Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center. Covered bike racks are available in front of Miller Hall and Blakeley Hall and in the Boston Ave garage. Bike lanes or sharrows are located on the parts of College Avenue, Packard Avenue, Curtis Street, and Powder House Boulevard located in Somerville. On the Tufts Boston campus, there are outdoor bicycle racks around campus and indoor bike storage at the Tufts Shared Services' Tremont St. Garage. Bicycle commuters can utilize the shower facilities in Posner Hall and the Jaharis Building. Currently, there are no lockers specifically for bicycle commuters on the Boston campus, although several university programs provide lockers for their students throughout campus. There are also 7 outdoor bike racks on the Grafton campus, and bike commuters have access to the showers in the fitness center.

There are 3 bicycle storage options available on the Tufts Medford campus: bike racks located outside of buildings, covered bike racks, and indoor bike facilities for students in residential buildings. Indoor bicycle racks or rooms are located in the following residence halls on the campus: Bush, Carmichael, Haskell, Hill, Hodgdon, Lewis, Metcalf, Miller, South, Stratton, Tilton, Wilson House, Sophia Gordon, West, and Hillsides Apartments. Additional bike racks and storage locations on the Medford/Somerville campus can be found on the Tufts Medford Bike Map: http://sustainability.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014-Bike-Map-Final.pdf Students, staff, and faculty on the Boston campus can leave their bikes in a secure room at the Tufts Tremont St. Garage. A key will be given to those who pay $3 to leave their bikes at the garage. When the key is returned, the money is refunded. Outdoor bike racks can be found around the campus. There are 7 outdoor bike racks on the Grafton campus.

Bike lanes or sharrows are located on the parts of College Avenue, Packard Avenue, Curtis Street, and Powder House Boulevard located in Somerville. "Cycling Basics" are outlined in the Medford/Somerville Bike Map. The information includes: "Share the Road. Respect other cyclists, cars, and pedestrians. Bikes must follow the same road rules as vehicles, including yielding to pedestrians. Don’t ride on the sidewalk. Look and Signal. Use a bell or voice to indicate intentions to pass and visible hand signals before turns or when merging with car traffic. Always look behind to see if it is clear. Beware of parked cars opening their doors. Be Predictable. Travel in a straight line unless you are avoiding hazards or passing. Avoid passing motor vehicles on the right – they’re not expecting you! Obey all stop signs and traffic lights. Be cautious at intersections – watch for crossing pedestrians and cars turning through your path. When approaching a crosswalk, dismount and walk your bike across the crosswalk. Be Safe. Wear a helmet. The front of the helmet should be level and two-fingers width above your eyebrows. Follow the “ABC Quick Bike Check” before you start your ride: make sure you have enough Air in your tires and your Brakes, Chain, Crank, and Quick releases are all working properly. Be Visible. Use front and back lights at night– they’re required by law! Wear bright colors and reflective gear when possible.

Tufts Bikes, a student-run organization, provides 30 bikes, locks, helmets, and lights that can be checked out by anyone with a Tufts ID through the library. Bikes can be kept for up to 24 hours and then returned to the same location on the Medford/Somerville campus. Rental is free, but late fees are charged. Tufts Bikes also provides a bike workshop space in the "Craft Center" with professional tools for anyone to use and open shop hours where members of the group offer classes on safety and maintenance and help people with their own bike repairs. Bike share bikes are kept in sheltered bike racks in front of the library and the campus center. Hubway stations are located on the Somerville edge of the Medford/Somerville campus and within about a 10 minute walk of the Boston campus.

Tufts runs a free shuttle from Davis Square to the Medford/Somerville campus during the school year, as well as a shuttle that runs along Boston Avenue, connecting 4 Colby Street (Sci Tech) and 200 Boston Avenue. There is also a shuttle from the Medford/Somerville campus to the Museum of Fine Arts and the New England Conservatory to accommodate students taking classes and employees working at those locations. Students on the Medford and Grafton campuses can purchase semester passes for the MBTA bus and subway system for a discounted rate through the bursar's office (a semester pass bought in advance for an 11% discount). Students on the Boston campus can purchase MBTA semester passes or monthly passes at a 25% discount. In November 2013, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate and the Office for Campus Life (OCL) started selling round-trip MBTA passes valued at $5 for $4 to students groups. Staff and faculty can pay for transit tickets, passes, and commuter parking with pre-tax dollars, and employees on the Tufts Boston campus can purchase transit passes at a 25% discount.

Those on the Medford and Grafton campuses who take an alternate mode of transportation at least 2 times each week can sign up for MassRIDES' Emergency Ride Home Program. (http://commute.com/sign_up) Those on the Boston campus who take an alternate mode of transportation at least 2 times each week can participate in ABC TMA's Guaranteed Ride Home Program. (http://www.abctma.com/commuters/commuter-benefits-programs/guaranteed-ride-home)

Tufts is a partner of MassRides, which offers a ride-matching service through NuRide. There are several designated carpool/vanpool parking spaces on the Medford campus, including one on the 5th Floor of the Dowling Parking Garage and one behind Bendetson Hall. Carpool parking pass costs can be split between the carpoolers. Through the Massachusetts Commuter Vanpool Program, MassDOT will provide a monthly subsidy of up to $600, or up to 50% of the monthly lease cost, to vanpools for Tufts employees that lease their vans directly from a participating vanpool vendor. (http://www.commute.com/commuter-options/vanpool-incentive-program) Those on the Boston campus can participate in ABC TMA's Carpool Subsidy Program, which offers a monthly $35 prepaid gas card for 6 months to drive-alone commuters who switch to carpooling, as well as the Vanpool Subsidy Program that offers a $220 subsidy for vanpool fare to drive-alone commuters to switch to vanpooling.

There are currently 8 Zipcars on the Tufts Medford Campus, and Tufts students age 18 and older can join Zipcar for $15 for a one-year membership, while faculty and staff members can join for $35. Tufts also promotes RelayRides, a neighbor-to-neighbor car sharing program. (https://relayrides.com/)

In September of 2013, a Level 2 EV charging station was installed in the Dowling Hall Garage in Medford.

Tufts does not have a formal telecommuting program as of now, but employees may make arrangements with their supervisors to telecommute if their position is one that can be done off campus. The "customary work day" for Tufts employees is defined as 9am-5pm, 5 days a week, but employees may participate in "alternative work arrangements" as long as they have the approval of their supervisor.

Tufts does not have a formal condensed work week option, but employees may be able to arrange with their supervisors for an adjusted work schedule. The "customary work day" for Tufts employees is defined as 9am-5pm, 5 days a week, but employees may participate in "alternative work arrangements" as long as they have the approval of their supervisor.

The Tufts Office of Sustainability publishes a number of green commuting publications to both students and employees, including commuting brochures, a bike map, and an Eco-Map that outlines programs available to students and employees. The public safety and parking website also includes information on alternative modes of transportation. The university also participates in a number of sustainable commuting events throughout the year, including Bay State Bike Week and the Massachusetts Clean Air Challenge (through which participants can win prizes). In the Fall of 2013, a Transportation Working Group was established to develop further transportation initiatives to reduce the impacts of campus vehicles (fleet) and commuting at the university. A transportation demand management plan was completed in February 2015. A fleet manager position was created and filled in February 2015. 25% of that person's job is dedicated to transportation demand management.

Covered bike racks were added outside of Carmichael Hall and 574 Boston Avenue in FY15.