October 1, 2009
UW wins leadership award for supporting green commuting
The UW was one of three regional organizations honored recently by the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) with the ACT Leadership Award, which recognizes the UW’s outstanding contributions to the field of transportation demand management. ACT is the national organization of professionals who work to reduce traffic congestion, conserve energy and improve air quality.
The U-PASS program has made it possible for almost 80 percent of the campus’ diverse population to commute using transportation modes other than driving alone. On a given day 26,000 people commute to campus via transit; 3,000 come in a carpool or vanpool; 5,000 ride a bicycle; and 17,000 people walk.
The University is able to accommodate 66,000 students, faculty, and staff — plus visitors and patients — with a campus parking supply of 11,590 spaces. U-PASS is responsible for reducing the CO2 emissions of University commuters by approximately 7,840 metric tons per year. One-third of the commute trips to campus are people powered.
The highly successful U-PASS program has made the UW a recognized leader in transportation demand management. U-PASS provides full fare coverage on Metro Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit and Sound Transit buses, as well as full fare coverage for light rail and Sounder commuter train service. U-PASS also provides discounted carpooling, subsidized vanpooling, and an array of merchant discounts. The program has financed the construction of more than 500 secure bicycle locker spaces on campus. It includes a partnership with ZipCar for car sharing and special bus service for Husky football games to reduce congestion around the stadium on game days.
“By focusing commuter programs on a population that includes more than 40,000 students each year, the University of Washington is influencing tomorrow’s workforce at a time when they are forming what will be life-long commuting habits,” says Josh Kavanagh, director of transportation services. “After four or more years commuting in an environment that supports high occupancy vehicle and people-powered transportation choices, the University of Washington’s student population will move on to the workplace. They will create the demand and help ‘sow the seeds’ for programs that support these ‘greener’ commute preferences in companies and agencies throughout the country.”
In addition to the UW’s award, Metro Transit received ACT’s Renovation Award for its work in revitalizing its Rideshare Operation program. TransManage, a service of the Bellevue Downtown Association, was named as the 2009 Outstanding Transportation Management Association.
