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Projects Updates for theme: Transportation

  1. Updated list of sustainability projects that need YOU!!!

    This is a list of projects that need students to work on.  It will be updated periodically by sustainability staff members, the last update was 8/30/21:

    • The campus MS4 stormwater permit currently has 49 Best Management Practices (BMPs) that have to be completed annually https://fs.illinois.edu/services/safety-and-compliance/about-the-program . One of the 49 BMPs is a Public Education and Outreach requirement to broadcast or publish one stormwater Public Service Announcement (PSA) on social media, radio, television and/or internet. We currently have a couple on our website and would like to keep it up to date with new materials whenever possible.  https://fs.illinois.edu/services/safety-and-compliance/about-the-program/events-and-outreach. Another opportunity is for a Public Participation and Involvement BMP to discuss and provide opportunity for public input on the Storm Water Program (permit BMPs), climate change and environmental justice topics. This could be met by webinars, PSAs, posters, etc. Contact is Betsy Liggett.
    • Develop informational messaging about SmartWay, get more UIUC departments aware of the program, and coordinate a related student event.  Contact Morgan White at mbwhite at illinois.edu.
    • Support the Champaign County Design and Conservation Foundation (CCDCF) Board with their county-wide efforts for conservation and design.
    • Conduct a campus poll (fall semester 2021) regarding the Top 10 most iconic/significant/impressive trees on campus (including the arboretum). Develop an online survey tool (i.e., an online poll) whereby students and campus employees can nominate their favorite campus trees. Upon conclusion of the survey, work with Jay Hayek to tabulate and rank the results and create a publicly viewable ArcGIS Online StoryMap showcasing campuses Top Ten Trees. Prepare a presentation of results for the annual Arbor Day Celebration. Contact Jay Hayek at jhayek at illinois.edu.
    • Follow through with Facility Liaisons for implementation of recommendations from NRES 285: iCAP Sustainability Ambassadors class: Illini Union.
    • Follow through with Facility Liaisons for implementation of recommendations from NRES 285: iCAP Sustainability Ambassadors class: Huff Hall.
    • Follow through with Facility Liaisons for implementation of recommendations from NRES 285: iCAP Sustainability Ambassadors class: ECE Building.
    • Follow through with Facility Liaisons for implementation of recommendations from NRES 285: iCAP Sustainability Ambassadors class: Armory.
    • Follow through with Facility Liaisons for implementation of recommendations from NRES 285: iCAP Sustainability Ambassadors class: Bevier Hall.
    • CCNet Website: Work with the Champaign County Sustainability Network (CCNet) leadership team to redesign and publish the CCNet website (old version is online at http://www.champaigncountynet.org/). There is a monthly brown bag sustainability networking event on the Third Thursday of each month, but the website hasn't been updated since 2016. Contact Morgan White at mbwhite at illinois.edu.
    • We are seeking a student volunteer who can do tree identification for a series of trees in the Arboretum, and work with the University Landscape Architect, Brent Lewis, and the Superintendent of Grounds, Ryan Welch, to compare the tree identification to the draft tree inventory. Contact Morgan White at mbwhite at illinois.edu.
    • Work on outlining sustainable initiatives that DIA can take in support of the Green Sports Alliance. Contact Meredith Moore, mkm0078 at llinois.edu.
    • Help iSEE develop a Sustainability Literacy Assessment. Contact Meredith Moore, mkm007 at illinois.edu. 
    • Help identify and develop opportunities for intersecting sustainability and the arts (sustainability murals, utility box artwork, etc.). Contact Meredith Moore, mkm0078 at illinois.edu. 
    • Develop permanent posters for the Solar Farm 2.0, to guide tour participants at the site. Contact Morgan White at mbwhite at illinois.edu.
    • Help iSEE work with Student Sustainability Committee grant to expand small scale campus composting. Contact Meredith Moore at mkm0078 at illinois.edu.
    • If you have a project idea, please contact us at sustainability@illinois.edu, or submit it through the iCAP Portal Suggestions page.
  2. Weekly Update: Sold out most bikes; Short-staffed; LCI training in September!

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, No mistaking it now. We’re busy, busy, busy. We’ve sold out of all our regular-sized bikes and only have 3 left that fill out the extreme ends of the size-spectrum:  two very small and one very large bike.

    We’ve been very vocal about hiring here while we’re open and have had some verbal interest but nothing that has actually translated to applications—yet. I did interview and am in the hiring process for one new employee, so that’s a start.

    On Friday, Jeff Yockey stopped by and grabbed a handful of Grand Opening flyers to hand out at the Habitat Bicycle Sale. Habitat sells some of their bikes in As Is condition meaning folks might need somewhere or some parts to get their bikes rolling a little better and we’d be just the place. Always nice to get our name out to the larger community.

    On Saturday,  I participated in LAB’s Traffic Skills 101 course. Despite 13 years of regular commuting, not all of the maneuvers and handling came naturally to me. Always more to learn. Up next is the official LCI training seminar in September.

    This week I’ll be fielding more applications and building bikes to attempt to meet demand.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 141
    Sales: $2,100.50

    Memberships: 17 for $510
    Bikes: 8 for $1,190
    Tires/tubes: 12 for $39
    U-locks: 6 for $136

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  3. Walkability Audit: Week 2 meeting between Sarthak and Sutapa

    Associated Project(s): 

    The Walkability Audit FY 2021-22 commences with designing a system to study the Walkability Index of the campus of UIUC and its neighboring areas. The site of intervention is divided into 29 divisions. A 2-level survey is chosen in order to generate an in-depth analysis, the survey questionnaire and a detailed study per division. The questionnaire takes care of overall parameters like pedestrian facilities, maintenance, crosswalks, aesthetics, path size, universal accessibility, shade, buffers etc (more to be added later) and is scored using 0-5 pts. The detailed study identifies and locates existing problems relevant to each division/subdivision individually.

    By mid-September 2021, all the walkability parameters and the survey questionnaire will be finalized and the training manual for volunteers will be developed. Volunteers will be provided with maps of their respective subdivisions and trained to correctly observe each parameter and take reference pictures if need be. The data will be collected in the month of October after the training is complete. Volunteers will work in teams and a single division will be documented by 3 different volunteers after which an average of the scores will be generated. This average score is believed to best represent each parameter. Volunteer groups will be kept the same throughout each study level for consistency of scores. The database with scores should be generated at the end of October 2021 after which the Analysis phase of the Walkability Audit will commence.

  4. Reservations available for UI Ride shuttle service

    Associated Project(s): 

    Reservations are again being accepted for UI Ride, the convenient University of Illinois System shuttle service. This service connects the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago universities and the Discovery Partners Institute. For fall 2021, UI Ride makes two daily round trips, three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). The comfortable 18-seat buses offer onboard Wi-Fi and work stations.

    Reservations available for UI Ride shuttle service

    Kirsten Ruby • Office for University Relations

  5. Weekly Update: Very busy; Short Staffed

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, Last week was absolutely bonkers busy. We sold out of most of our bikes, handed out bike registration stickers, and taken in some drop-off repairs. We were closed on Friday for a staff training so we did all that in two days. We’re really getting to see how our new space handles the crush of people this time of year. Only downside is we’re only able to be open M/W/F since we’re critically low on staffing. Once we hire and onboard more folks, we’ll be able to bump up our hours some more.

    Over the weekend we had the Illini Frenzy event which was a great outreach opportunity. We handed out lots of Bike Center stickers, slap bracelets and flyers.

    This week will likely be as busy or busier than last. Buckle up!

    The numbers:

    Sales: $1,848
    Bikes: 9 for $1,410
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tire/tubes: 17 for $66

    U-locks: 10 for $215

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  6. Walkability Audit: First meeting between Sarthak and Sutapa

    Associated Project(s): 

    The Facilities and Services- Transportation Demand and Management department is working on performing a Walkability Audit for the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign campus. The area covered in the audit encompasses the pedestrian walkways on UIUC campus, some parts of the cities of Urbana, Champaign, and Savoy located at close proximity to the campus. The site of intervention is bifurcated into 29 divisions with eventual subdivisions for detailed analysis.

    The final objective of the audit is to create a Walking Master Plan of the area using best practices of Urban Planning and Design. This will be achieved by documenting the walkability index of the footpaths using surveys filled by volunteers. Volunteers involved in the project will be assigned certain subdivisions and will be trained to identify problems with the help of certain parameters. They will finally fill a questionnaire which will be the starting point of our database. A scoring system will be determined in order to identify the level of service present in each division. Through the scores, the divisions that require the highest priority of intervention will be identified and strategies will be proposed to tackle existing problems.

    As a final product, a detailed report will be created that documents the results of the surveys, analyzes the existing scenario, and provides detailed measures to be taken to improve walkability. This report will be proposed to the university and will serve as a starting point to improve the urban walkability infrastructure in the campus and its vicinity.

  7. Robert O'Daniell's Involvement and ChargePoint Session

    Associated Project(s): 

    The following email from Robert O'Daniell to Morgan White describes some of O'Daniell's involvement with EVs on campus.

    The file attached below details one of O'Daniell's ChargePoint Sessions.

    --------------------------------------------------

    From: Robert O'Daniell
    Sent: Friday, August 20, 2021 12:45 PM
    To: White, Morgan
    Subject: Prologue then a question or two.

     

    I’m reminded that the best way to advocate for yourself is to advocate for all subject to the condition. 

    I’m slowly talking to people as they charge their EV is public places. 

    .   .   .    . and trying a charger or two as I visit all the public charging places in the county 

    from me at UI B4. 

    Some thoughts as I proceed.   

    How many if any of the EV Charging task force drive PHEVs and how many drive  BEVs.

    I recall reading somewhere that you will come up with the survey questions for EV users on campus. I you think it might help, I would be happy to read those questions and reply with any questions I would want to answer if I received that survey.  

    If there is some part of the EV discussion that you think I might have the most to add, please let me know. 


    Robert K. O'Daniell
    Photographer Emeritus-News-Gazette

    Attached Files: 
  8. Weekly Update: Increased bicycle registration; Getting very busy!

    All, We’re getting legitimately busy nowadays! We’ll be keeping an eye on overall capacity and having to limit some visitors soon.

    I’m scrambling to finish more bikes to capitalize on the surging demand but we’ll likely sell out this week or next.

    Over the weekend we’ve gotten over 50 bike registration notifications so it’s likely we’ll see an uptick in registration pick-ups here.

    We had a patron come in on Friday who’s an RA at LAR and took all of our rack card flyers to hand out to his students—hopefully that’ll bump up our applications.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 41
    Sales: $1,362.60
    Bikes (refurb): 6 for $940
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tires/tubes: 8 for $42
    U-locks: 6 or $126

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  9. EV Task Force discussion

    Associated Project(s): 

    Pete Varney, Morgan White, Stacey DeLorenzo, Ria Kontou, and Yanfeng Ouyang met on August 12, 2021 to discuss the plans for EV Task Force, its objective, and its leadership. Please see attached the meeting notes.

    Also see attached the final report by the EV Charging Task Force and Level 1 Electric Vehicle Charging Implementation in 2018.

  10. Sutapa Banerjee to help with Walkability Audit

    Associated Project(s): 

    Sutapa Banerjee, a Masters in Urban Planning student at U of I, will work with Sarthak Prasad with the Walkability Audit project in 2021-22 as her Capstone Project. She has an undergraduate degree in Architecture from Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai. She joined MUP in Spring 2021.

     

  11. UI Ride shuttle service resumes Aug. 17

    Associated Project(s): 

    UI Ride shuttle service resumes Aug. 17
    August 9, 2021 1:01 PM

    Dear colleagues:

    Reservations are again being accepted for UI Ride, the convenient University of Illinois System shuttle service that will resume operation on August 17. 

    This service connects the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago universities and the Discovery Partners Institute. For fall 2021, UI Ride will make two daily round trips, three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). The convenient and comfortable 18-seat buses offer onboard Wi-Fi and work stations, allowing those traveling between campuses time to work rather than focusing on the drive.

    UI Ride also encourages and facilitates the growing collaborative efforts between our universities, and I hope you will take advantage of the service for your next trip.

    Departure Times: 
    Urbana
    Parking lot E-14 (1802-1834  S. Oak St., Champaign, southeast corner)
    7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

    Levis Faculty Center (919 W. Illinois St., Urbana) 
    7:10 a.m. and 3:10 p.m.

    North Campus Parking Deck Lot B4 (1201 W. University Ave., Urbana) 
    7:20 a.m. and 3:20 p.m.

    Chicago
    UI Health (UIC West Campus, 1740 W. Taylor St., Chicago)
    7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

    UIC Behavioral Science Building (UIC East Campus, 1007 W. Harrison St., Chicago) 
    7:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.

    Illini Center (Discovery Partners Institute, 200 S. Wacker St., Chicago) 
    7:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m.

    Arrival times are estimated to be 2½ to 3 hours after departures.

    UI Ride follows COVID-19 safety protocols for transportation services. Face coverings are required for all riders.

    I hope resumption of this transportation service makes your important work less stressful and more productive. I look forward to your feedback and am grateful for everything you do for the U of I System. For more information and FAQs, visit uillinois.edu/uiride

    Sincerely,

    Avijit Ghosh
    Interim Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs

  12. Commuter Program Meeting (8/11/21)

    On Wednesday, August 12, 2021, Stacey DeLorenzo, Sarthak Prasad, Morgan White, and Avery Maloto met to discuss the Commuter Program.

    During the call, the group discussed program logistics, next steps for outreach, and more.

    See the attached file to read the meeting notes.

  13. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, This update is a day late as I was out of the office on Monday.
    Last week I was out on Thursday and Friday as well. Student staff covered Bike Center hours in my absence. On Monday last week we received a bike from Housing which we were able to quickly fix up and put out for sale.  
    This week we have a couple drop off repairs to catch up on, a few more bikes to fix up for sale, and some donations to process.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 26
    Sales: $1,167

    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $500
    U-locks: 5 for $105

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  14. Final bicycle registration sign and work order details

    Please see attached the final bicycle registration sign design in JPEG and PDF formats. We have received approvals from Housing to put up these signs in the major high traffic bicycle parking locations, mainly in the SDRP, LAR, FAR/PAR, and Busey Evans bicycle parking areas. We are also looking at Illini Union and ARC for these signs in this cycle, but dependent on funding.

    Sarthak Prasad has submitted a work order to fabricate and install the bike registration signs at these locations (as mentioned in previous project updates). The Work Order number is 10885468.

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