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Projects Updates for theme: Transportation

  1. Sustainability Analysis of the Campus Bike Center

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    NRES 285: Sustainability Metrics and Evaluation Techniques

    The Campus Bike Center opened for business in May 2010, funded by The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign, a grant from the Student Sustainability Committee, the Center for a Sustainable Environment, and supplementary funding from the Facilities and Services Department at UIUC[1]. The Center offers a hands-on, educational space in which students and community members can have access to knowledge and experience in maintaining and fixing bicycles, as well as all of the necessary tools and products to do so. The Center’s outlined mission is to teach bicycle maintenance, providing access to affordable equipment, support overall safety education, and participate in campus bicycle community outreach2. The Center also has described goals for sustainability; to contribute towards the ICAP goal to reduce transportation emissions by 50% in 2025, support those who use bicycles for transportation, to make bikes a more feasible alternative to motor vehicles on this campus, and to expand these efforts even more through increased outreach and publicity efforts, increased staff capacity, more events outside of the shop to reach new audiences, more refurbished bikes to sell to students, and more courses, workshops, and demonstrations to educate the campus about bikes2.



    [1] Neptune, Amelia. Bike Shop Student Sustainability Committee Application. UIUC ICAP Portal. http://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project-updates/102. 11 Nov 2012. Accessed 8 May 2014.

     

     

    Attached Files: 

  2. Bike Funding Needs

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    In 2011, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was recognized as a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) by the League of American Bicyclists. This was in large part a result of efforts by Facilities & Services in cooperation with community partners, including the Bicycle Friendly Cities of Urbana and Champaign and Champaign County Bikes, which is dedicated to making Champaign County the most bicycle friendly county in the Midwest.  The Student Sustainability Committee, Illinois Student Senate, and Dean of Students have added funding.

    The BFU Bronze status expires in 2015, and campus needs to address several bicycle-related items in order to maintain Bronze status or achieve the Silver designation.  Key points, status, timing, and approximate long-term funding needs are below.

    Task

    Status

    Timing

     Long-term Funding Needs

    Approve Campus Bike Plan

    final edits underway, then routing for approval from F&S and Campus

    30-Jun-14

    use existing staff time

    Improve bikeway network

    integrating some of these with street and capital projects, seeking grants

    five to ten years

    approximately $4 Million

    Upgrade bike parking

    over 150 parking locations are not up to acceptable standards

    three to five years

    approximately $400K

    Adopt Campus Bike Code and  bike registration system

    final edits underway, then routing for approval; costs include tracking citations, and handling registration

    approve by June 30, 2014

    $5-$20k/year recurring

    Campus Bicycle Coordinator over programs such as bike sharing and ambassadors

    no funding available, currently managed part-time by a team of F&S

    needed

    $45k/year recurring

    Bicycle Education maps, materials and classes

    currently offered by the Campus Bike Center and Champaign County Bikes

    ongoing

    $5-$10k/year recurring

    Campus Bike Center advocacy, education, and encouragement

    recurring events, in collaboration with Champaign County Bikes and student advocacy groups

    needed

    $50k/year recurring

    With increasing ridership over the last decade and an average of 5,000 bikes on campus during a typical hour, it is clear that bicycle-related needs should not be ignored.  Bikeway improvements, parking upgrades, and a new bike code are in progress now; however, to keep the Bicycle Friendly status, campus should allocate $50,000 in FY15 for the Campus Bike Center (a collaboration between campus and The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign).

    The Bike Center distributes UI registration stickers; maintains Bike Fix-it Stations; provides a central base for the bicycling community on campus; encourages mode-shift through various events and classes throughout the year; distributes educational resources regarding bicycling; educates students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors about basic bicycle maintenance; and collaborates with campus and community partners in bicycle-related programs.  By keeping the Bike Center open, campus can spread awareness about the many improvements, increase safety, sustainability, and health on campus, and continue to offer education and encouragement events this coming year.

    Attached Files: 

  5. Mode Shift update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Reduce Driving on Campus
    Multi-Modal Transportation Study [ARCHIVED]

    CUUATS completed a University District Traffic Circulation Study, using information from a campus-wide statistically relevant survey.

    The following table shows the mode share information based on the survey conducted in April-May, 2011.

    Level

    Travel Mode (%)

    Walk

    Bike

    Transit

    Drive Alone

    Carpool

    Get a Ride

    Other

    Faculty

    9

    18

    10

    51.9

    9

    1.9

    0

    Staff

    5.4

    6.4

    9.1

    65.2

    9.7

    3.5

    0.6

    Freshman

    50.2

    12

    34.8

    0.7

    0.2

    0.7

    1.4

    Sophomore

    53.1

    9.1

    34.1

    1.6

    0.3

    0

    1

    Junior

    48.5

    12.6

    28.8

    8.6

    0.6

    0.9

    0

    Senior

    49.1

    10.5

    27.1

    11.2

    1.4

    0.4

    0.4

    Masters

    23.4

    13

    41.3

    18.4

    2.1

    1.8

    0

    PhD

    20.1

    15.2

    39

    20.8

    3.4

    1.6

    0

     

    Attached Files: 

  6. Registration events at Residence Halls

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Registration

    Schedule

    Monday, April 28, 11AM-2PM

    Student Dining and Residential Programs (SDRP) Building

    Tuesday, April 29, 11AM-2PM

    Illinois Street Residence Halls (ISR)

    Wednesday, April 30, 11AM-2PM

    Allen Hall/Lincoln Avenue Residence Hall (LAR)

    Thursday, May 1, 11AM-2PM

    Pennsylvania/Florida Avenue Residence Hall(s) (PAR/FAR)

     

  7. "Connectivity and Accessibility of UIUC Campus Bike Paths"

    Associated Project(s): 
    2014 Campus Bike Plan [ARCHIVED]
    Independent Student Projects

    "The results here indicate that the changes to the UIUC network do in fact improve connectivity over the existing network. Moreover, the planned network lowers the average shortest-distance path between libraries, dormitories, and the Union by nearly the same amount as a control scenario without paths at all. While we may assume that a bicycle master plan will address and improve connectivity as a matter of course – and the language in the plans claims that they do – it seems counterintuitive that this simple test not be included in the research process to confirm that this is so. Ultimately what these accessibility and connectivity analyses show is that while planners and bicycle advocates may seek to improve bicycle infrastructure, we need a way to quantify and subsequently verify that any changes will improve the functionality of the network and the ease with which a rider can travel from one location to another." -- Pildes, Russell. (2014) "Connectivity and Accessibility of UIUC Campus Bike Paths", B.A. Honors Thesis, Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

    Attached Files: 

  8. email to participants

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Counts

    Happy Bike Census Day, 

    Thank you so much for participating in the April 2014 Bike Census!

    We are really excited to get a hold of the data you collected it and to tally the count. 

    Today (Wednesday) after 8PM and tomorrow (Thursday) before 6PM would be ideal. If you could please send me times when you know you will be at home or in an office, I will definitely try to stop by and pick it up then. I could also meet you at a specific time and place. Feel free to give me a call if that is easier. 

    If it's easy, you could also scan and email it to me. 

    Thanks again for participating! If you didn't get a t-shirt, please let me know and I will bring you one.

    Andy

    Andy Kopp

    Campus Bicycle Planning Intern

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Facilities and Services

  9. ARC approval

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sheltered Bike Parking at CLSL

    From: Lev, James R
    Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 4:37 PM
    To: Geoffrey Chambers
    Cc: Eller, Jonathan Randall; Johnston, Morgan B; Architecture Review Committee
    Subject: RE: Approval for SSC Proposal: Shelter Bicycle Parking for CLSL and RAL

    Geoff:

    Thank you for your summary and request for review comments on your proposed project. 

    ARC finds no significant issues with the proposed locations of a cover bike shelter adjacent to the Chem Life Sciences Building.  

    ARC would want to consider shelter designs on a location by location basis.  The shelters may not be acceptable everywhere on campus.   Each site would need to be considered on its own merits and appropriateness of design.  We would like to see a proposal for these two suggested locations: size, location, number of racks, costs and the design.   We’d like to see what you have in mind. 

    Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

    Jim

  10. Illinois Bike Summit

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Education
    Contribute to Regional Climate Action Plans

    18.jpg

    Dear Summit attendee,

      

    Thanks for being part of the 2014 Illinois Bike Summit!  We're thrilled at how many bicycle advocates and interested professionals came to advance your agendas in your communities.  Hopefully it was time well spent.    

     

    The presentations, attendee list, printed program, and more are all available now at the Summit webpage, www.illinoisbikesummit.org.  

     

    For those who did not fill out a printed evaluation sheet, please complete our evaluation survey to help us make the next Summit even better!

      

    Thanks again for attending! 

    Ed Barsotti, League of Illinois Bicyclists 

    Jeff Yockey, Champaign County Bikes 

     
    League of Illinois Bicyclists | 630-978-0583 | lib@bikelib.org | www.bikelib.org

     

  12. Name changing to Campus Bike Center

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    The Campus Bicycle Shop is changing its name!  The word "shop" simply didn't reflect the educational and mode-shift mission of this fantastic bicycling resource.  The new name is Campus Bike Center, and we appreciate your support spreading awareness of this change.

  13. Every Bike Counts!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Counts

    Facilities and Services at the University of Illinois is partnering with Champaign County Bikes to count every bike on campus. The bicycle data collected is critical for future university decision-making and planning including: determining the location and quantity of additional bicycle parking needed to meet demand, estimating the increasing number of cyclists on campus, and prioritizing bicycle infrastructure projects.

    Volunteers are needed to help with the count and can register at http://tinyurl.com/kcbc4t4

    Please contact bike@illinois.edu for additional information.

  14. Sustainable Fleet Standard Program

    Associated Project(s): 
    Decrease Emissions from UI Fleet

    IMPORTANT NEWS: NAFA President Announces Major Association Initiative

    At the Annual Business Meeting this morning, April 8, at the I&E in Minneapolis, MN, NAFA President Claude Masters, CAFM announced the Association is developing a Sustainable Fleet Standard Program, which aims to increase efficiency, while reducing emissions and fuel use. Developed in conjunction with CALSTART, the NAFA Sustainable Fleet Standard Program is a one-of-its-kind initiative. With its development NAFA intends to pioneer a movement in the fleet community which emphasizes the economic and environmental benefits and overall importance of sustainability.

    sustfleetlogo.jpg

    “The importance of sustainable practices becomes more evident each day,” said President Masters. “By becoming more energy independent and efficient our members will extend benefits to their bottom line and their customer base.”

    In February, 2014, President Barack Obama lent his voice to a national vehicle sustainability initiative while NAFA was in the process of developing their own. This confluence spoke to the prominence of the issue. NAFA’s development of this program exemplifies its dedication to developing a standard of fleet sustainability. By applying this standard to fleets and vehicles of all sizes, NAFA is engineering a program that has the power to shift vehicle sustainability standards on a universal level.

    The program will allow member organizations to assess how to enhance their practices in a way that decreases their fuel dependence and emissions, while increasing the efficiency of their vehicles, improving performance, and reducing harmful pollutants. The ability to assess and strip waste on this front will pave a road to improve performance and reduce harmful pollutants, while often also reducing costs.

    The new Sustainable Fleet Standard Program is being designed for two purposes: to encourage and make it easy for fleets to take the first steps, while also setting a strong framework to reward those fleets already taking real action.  The program will be complementary to existing federal programs, but sets a standard by which fleets can assess their progress. By instituting this program NAFA hopes to lead the way forward into a more sustainable, independent and efficient future.  CALSTART, a national non-profit clean transportation organization, is collaborating with NAFA to structure the ground-breaking program.

    “NAFA’s central role in the fleet industry will help this program create a tipping point for sustainable transportation,” said John Boesel, president and CEO of CALSTART. “We’re working with NAFA to make sure the standard is strong, but easy to use by any fleet, whether just starting out or far down the road on sustainable operations.”

    More information will become available as the program approaches implementation. To ask questions and become involved as a charter member of the program, please visit www.NAFASustainable.org.

     

  15. meeting minutes from Cindy Klein-Banai

    Associated Project(s): 
    Encourage Train Travel for Business Trips

    Some suggestions that have come from our Sustainability committee are: Regardless of which route we take, we should update the Business Travel page, http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/travel/, to include something about scheduling inter-campus meetings between UIC and UIS or UIUC to accommodate the Amtrak schedule, perhaps with a table with this information:

    Inter-campus travel: In order to facilitate sustainable and convenient travel between campuses, meeting organizers are encouraged to schedule meetings around the Amtrak schedule. For Chicago meetings, start after 10:30, end by 3:30; in Springfield start after 10:45, end by 4:30; in Champaign, start after 11:00, end by 6:15 (as of October 2013 Amtrak schedule)

    1. We should definitely include the following sustainability drivers:
      1. Economic – less expensive
      2. Environment – reduces emissions and energy consumption
      3. Society – you can work while in transit – benefits office
    2. Consideration of video-conferencing. Perhaps even a listing of where facilities are or how people identify them on their campuses.
    3. Consult with Scott Speegle.

    Thanks,

    Cindy

    Attached Files: 

  18. conference call with Chicago and Payables

    Associated Project(s): 
    Encourage Train Travel for Business Trips

    The call included Jim Martinie and Kathy Young with UA Payables, Cindy Klein-Banai, Stephanie Lage, and Morgan Johnston.  Ben McCall, Shelby Egan, and Ginger Valezquez were unable to join the call.

    This discussion was started through a group in Chicago looking at the travel policy with Amtrak.  Unlike with airfare it wasn’t giving a preference for Amtrak.  Also, even a higher class than the coach class Amtrak is much less expensive than driving, and people may be more productive on the train.  Are there options and promotional opportunities.  Payables was going to look at it and provide us with an update. 

    Policy is set by the Illinois Higher Education Travel Board and it is very difficult to get them to change.  Ginger is the representative for the UI with the Illinois Higher Education Travel Board.  They prescribe the lodging limitations, per diem amount, and travel policies.  Can do procedures and not policies on our side, but they haven’t had much luck with change requests for increasing per diem or lodging limitations.  Cindy said that this would be a little different because we want to ask them to reimburse less than for car travel.

    Probably need to focus on what can be done here and what we do have control over.  Providing some information to Amtrak and train travel under make travel arrangements.  We can update the pages on the OBFS page. Payables was really focused on making procedural changes with the web-page – Kathy would like to work with someone to put the information on the website.  Kathy will submit the information for the changes – Cindy will work with them to help with that, with Stephanie.  Stephanie will bring Gary Miller up to speed about the policy issue, for the Green Governing Coordinating Council.  Morgan will get a contact at IDOT in support of Amtrak travel.

    They were able to come up with a preliminary report that identifies the instances that someone has driven and been reimbursed for mileage between Urbana and Chicago.  That report needs a little fine tuning – by departments.  We can count and sum the info by department with the details.  They will look at instances between Chicago and Springfield, as well. 

     

  20. ISTC seminar online about SmartWay program

    Associated Project(s): 
    EPA SmartWay Affiliate

    Professor Lavey presented a seminar through the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) last week on governments' efforts to promote cleaner trucking services.  The focus was on tools beyond legislation and regulations, especially imposing  low-emissions conditions on access to properties and applying environmental preferences in government purchases.  Here is the short description:

    Technologies to cut truck emissions are available and cost-effective, and should be encouraged by a range of government and private actions. In 2013, Chicago approved the expansion of a railroad terminal contingent on retrofitting dozens of trucks with clean diesel filters. Illinois agencies are reforming freight and package delivery purchasing programs to implement the Transportation Sustainability Procurement Program Act of 2013. Similarly, the U.S. General Services Administration is applying new environmental preferences in selecting transportation vendors and tracking their performance.

    See the video on ISTC's website.

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