Vanderbilt University
OP-15: Campus Fleet

The majority of Plant Operations’ fleet has changed to electric powered golf carts over the past few years, significantly improving outdoor air quality. MoveVU, Vanderbilt’s new mobility strategy, has been a unique collaboration with faculty, administrators, staff and students. MoveVU is about creating a plan to better move to and around our campus. MoveVU will consider Vanderbilt’s need to be inclusive and careful in our approach to be better stewards of our environment while meeting the mobility needs of those who live and work at Vanderbilt. MoveVU has received a $4.5 million, three-year federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) grant, which the university will match. The $9 million total will launch a variety of new initiatives, including expanding shuttle operations using vehicles that rely on alternative fuels (either electricity or biofuels), instructing new shelter stops, and establishing bike and scooter share stations, shelters and repair sheds. Vanderbilt University has a guideline prohibiting Plant Operations vehicles from idling. Plant Operations’ vehicles make up the majority of the “on campus fleet” and therefore are the most likely candidates to idle while on campus. Vanderbilt’s campus is not driver friendly, has few roads that go through campus, and allows very few vehicles to drive on the campus aside from the Plant Operations vehicles. All Plant Operations vehicles were recently outfitted with Geotab GPS tracking systems which report idling time and route performance and optimization back to VU management.