Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 83.80
Liaison Breeana Sylvas
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of California, Merced
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Karin Groth
Director of Transportation
Facilities Management
"---" 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:
Campus footprint includes placement of bicycle racks/lockers in strategic locations throughout campus and storage facilities close in proximity to Student Housing.

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:
Bicycle racks located outside all residential and non-residential buildings. Long-term storage facilities located in two of campus residence halls.

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:
UC Merced Transportation and Parking Services collaborates with both the City of Merced and Merced County to assist with planning for bicycle pathways leading to the campus. In addition, the UC Merced 2009 LRDP and subsequent revision for Project 2020 incorporates multi-modal circulation planning.

Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
No

A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
Not currently, but campus stakeholders are reviewing potential bike share partners who will provide a solution which best fits the campus.

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:
UC Merced partners with our local transit authorities to provide scheduled transportation support for students, staff and faculty throughout Merced and to all major housing locations off-campus.

Guaranteed Return Trip Program 

Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
For carpool participants, clean-air commuter cards are offered to support riders with extenuating circumstances.

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:
Transportation and Parking Services offers dedicated spaces within campus lots for those choosing alternative transportation options.

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:
Transportation and Parking Services has a partnerships with: • Zipcar - a car sharing program accessible to students, staff and faculty. The program has 5 dedicated vehicles available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week for reservations. • Zimride – a ride matching/car sharing application accessible to students, staff and faculty. Participation in online ride matching/car sharing is available through this membership application.

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 currently four Level 2 charging stations and four Level 1 stations located on the UC Merced campus. With the upcoming delivery of new construction of parking from Project 2020 in FY ’18-19, the campus will incorporate additional EV stations for all 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:
UC Merced standard practice is to offer telecommuting opportunities authorized through administration, and to continue offering flexible scheduling to accommodate staff and faculty needs. Please see: https://policies.ucmerced.edu/sites/policies.ucmerced.edu/files/page/documents/telecommuting_policy.pdf

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:
The most common types of compressed workweek are: 4/10 schedule (four 10-hour days per week). 9/80 schedule (80 hours in a two week period worked over nine days instead of ten). Compressed workweek is intended to create flexible conditions that help employees integrate their work and personal lives more effectively and better manage issues such as commuting, caregiving, continuing education, and community service. Successful compressed workweek arrangements serve the needs both of individual employees and their work unit/departments. The focus of the arrangement is on job performance and meeting operational needs. A written agreement clarifying both parties’ expectations is required. Please see: http://hr.ucmerced.edu/talent-acquisition/workplace-flexibility

Other Strategies to Reduce the Impacts of Commuting 

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:
Our campus is remote – at this time, no incentive or programs exist due to our location.

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)?:
Yes

A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
Transportation and Parking Services incorporates alternative fuel types in our campus fleet and on the fixed route transit system. Two solar powered hourly parking meters for spaces in one of the campus’ high-mobility lot are available and provide short-term visitor parking with zero energy consumption. UC Merced participates in the Commute Connection Program, which offers additional incentives and subsidies for customers choosing other alternative sustainable transportation options. Transportation and Parking Services continues to partner with the City of Merced and the Local County Transit Authority to share bus stop locations, and explore collaborative transportation services such as fixed route or car/bike sharing applications.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Additional website: http://www.commuteconnection.com

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.