Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.77
Liaison Ezra Small
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Massachusetts Amherst
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Ezra Small
Sustainability Manager
Physical Plant
"---" 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:
UMass Transportation has an active Bicycle Commute Program: http://www.umass.edu/transportation/bicycle-commute-program Bicycles can be housed securely within many of the dorms or buildings on campus. There is also a student run business, the Bike Co-Op, for bike repair on campus. We provide many showers at UMass Amherst, and there are locker facilities in our gym. There are new public showers available to the entire campus community in the new South College Academic Facility located centrally in the campus core. There is a large indoor bike storage room in the Commonwealth Honors College available for student residents. The UMass Bike Share Program uses this for winter storage. Green Building Researchers have mapped out every bike storage facility (bike racks, bike lockers, etc) and all of the available showers for bike commuters on the interactive Campus Sustainability Explorer available on the Sustainable UMass website.

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:
UMass Amherst has bike loops everywhere and continues to install more loops each year. There is ample indoor bike storage in many of the Residential Halls on campus providing storage to the 13,500 students living 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:
Complete Streets and Pedestrian spine plans are being implemented through the Campus Master Plan here: http://www.umass.edu/cp/master-plan. See page 105 for pedestrain spine map, and page 111 for "Think Pedestrian First" mention of complete streets, bicycle and transit accommodation along roads. In 2018, the campus will be doing major utility and hardscape improvements in the campus core which will result in the development of the "Ellis Way pedestrian path" which is a major pedestrian plan in the Campus Master Plan.

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:
UMass Student Government started the UMass Amherst Bike Share Program in Spring 2011. Students, faculty, and staff can check out bikes for their use from the Student Government Office from March-November. http://www.umass.edu/sustainability/buildings-infrastructure/transportation/bike-share-%E2%80%93-campus Coming in June 2018, UMass will be installing 5 of the 50 stations of the regional bike shrae program called ValleyBike which will be the third largest electric-assist bike share program in the world.

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:
For students and employees the PVTA Bus system is free during the school year. The on campus shuttles remain free all year to students and faculty. https://www.umass.edu/transportation/pvta-buses

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:
UMass Transportation offers an Emergency Ride Home program, more info here: http://www.umass.edu/transportation/emergency-ride-home

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:
The UMass Rideshare Program provides an alternative to single occupancy vehicles by assisting UMass employees and off-campus students in forming carpools. The goals of the UMass Rideshare Program are to reduce commuter traffic on campus, improve the environment and air quality of the region, and offer an alternative to full-cost UMass parking permits. Rideshare services are offered free of charge to any employee or off-campus student on the Amherst campus. Services offered include carpool matching, Guaranteed Ride Home, and commuter information on transit services and park and ride lots. http://www.umass.edu/transportation/carpool-and-rideshare

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:
UMass Amherst has ZipCar: http://www.zipcar.com/umass

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:
The campus has significant EV Charging infrastructure on campus for all visitors and permit holders with electric vehicles. We have 2 Level III (fast) chargers and over 15 Level II chargers on the campus. A complete map of all charging infrastructure on campus can be found on ChargePoint website here: https://na.chargepoint.com/charge_point

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:
The University recognizes that in order to attract, retain, and develop highly skilled employees and partner with the Union on promoting a clean environment, there may be times when it is in the best interest of both the University and the employee to consider options beyond traditional work locations and schedules. This flexibility must always meet the needs of the individual campus business units. The University’s commitment to this flexibility does not mean that every employee is entitled to a flexible work option. The nature of the work and/or the needs of the University may preclude a flexible work arrangement. Flexibility is appropriate where both the needs of the University and the needs of the employee are met. Upon request of a bargaining unit member, the supervisor may grant, for a specific period of time, or for an unspecified time (subject to a cancellation by the supervisor) a flexible personal work schedule, a compressed work week, or an alternative work site/telecommuting schedule, so long as the bargaining unit member can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the supervisor that the proposed schedule will not interfere with or detract from the delivery of services provided or the day to day operation of the department. Such request shall not be unreasonably denied.

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 University recognizes that in order to attract, retain, and develop highly skilled employees and partner with the Union on promoting a clean environment, there may be times when it is in the best interest of both the University and the employee to consider options beyond traditional work locations and schedules. This flexibility must always meet the needs of the individual campus business units. The University’s commitment to this flexibility does not mean that every employee is entitled to a flexible work option. The nature of the work and/or the needs of the University may preclude a flexible work arrangement. Flexibility is appropriate where both the needs of the University and the needs of the employee are met. Upon request of a bargaining unit member, the supervisor may grant, for a specific period of time, or for an unspecified time (subject to a cancellation by the supervisor) a flexible personal work schedule, a compressed work week, or an alternative work site/telecommuting schedule, so long as the bargaining unit member can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the supervisor that the proposed schedule will not interfere with or detract from the delivery of services provided or the day to day operation of the department. Such request shall not be unreasonably denied.

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:
---

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:
The campus has preferred parking passes for electric vehicles, carpool permits, etc.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.umass.edu/transportation/alternative-transportation

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.