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Projects Updates for Encourage Active Transportation
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F&S Executive Director message
Associated Project(s):Dear Colleagues,
Further developing and encouraging the use of active transportation modes that promote walking, bicycling, and public transit is one of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s strategic initiatives. The F&S Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan FY21–FY26 defines how the campus will continue to improve and manage the transportation network over the next five years by focusing on safety, connectivity, sustainability, and reliability.
The TDM department collaborates with regional transportation planning partners and units across campus to implement policies and take actions to enhance pedestrian safety, increase mobility choices, and move the university closer to achieving carbon-neutrality Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) objectives for transportation.
TDM strives to ensure effective asset maintenance, reduce single-occupancy vehicle usage, foster bicycle-friendly activities, transition to green vehicle fleets, integrate electric vehicle charging stations, and strengthen commuter options on campus. These wide-ranging efforts build on recent successes:
- Earning Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) status from the League of American Bicyclists in 2019 (Campus Bicycle Network Master Plan published, Bike at Illinois website launched, bike sharing established, national bike registration system joined)
- Reshaping the core of the University District with complete streets for all users as a part of the $46.9 million Multimodal Corridor Enhancement (MCORE) Project, a collaborative effort with the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, and Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District
- Renewing complete campus bike pathway stretches along Armory Avenue and near Gregory Hall, Bevier Hall, and the Red Oak Rain Garden
As the facilities and grounds at UIUC transform, so do the transportation infrastructure and programs needed to support our growing micro-urban area. The campus will continue to make advancements and serve as a living learning laboratory for research and academic collaboration that provides accessible, effective, and innovative transportation options for all mobility modes.
Cordially,
Dr. Mohamed Attalla, MBA, P.Eng.
Executive Director, Facilities & Servicesarchived info: prior project description
Associated Project(s):The University can be a leader in Active Transportation by encouraging students, employees, and visitors to get out of the car-centric mentality. People on campus can walk, bike, take a bus, ride with a friend, or use a Zipcar to get around. It is simple and healthy to not own a car on campus.
Well-o-Ween campaign by Campus Recreation: Active Transportation
Associated Project(s):View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Illini Campus Recreation (@illinoiscampusrec) on Oct 27, 2020 at 1:09pm PDT
2020 iCAP October Final Objectives: Transportation SWATeam
Associated Project(s):Attached is the final draft of the recommended 2020 iCAP objectives from the Transportation SWATeam.
Any meeting minutes from October 2019 or November 2019 may reference the following categories: Reduce the Number of Cars on Campus, Increase LEV Use, Decrease Business Travel Emissions, Road Management Systems, and Increase Active Mode of Travel/Active Transportation. Please refer to this document for any details.
There will be a revised version by the end of the 2019 Fall Semester after iWG gives feedback for the SWATeams to revise.
Attached Files:Transportation SWATeam Meeting 24 October 2019
Associated Project(s):Attached are the meeting minutes from the 24 October Transportation SWATeam meeting.
Stacey DeLorenzo was able to join us in order to provide insight to the Road Management Objectives the SWATeam discussed earlier, and to answer questions. She also was able to take a look at other objectives and provide input on potential objective ideas.
The SWATeam confirmed submittal of Road Management, Active Transportation, and Business Travel Emissions objectives and added a new objective under Reducing Business Travel emissions.
The next meeting is 31 October 2019.
Attached Files:Near Far Without a Car Flyer
Associated Project(s):Facilities & Services (F&S) updated the Near Far Without a Car flyer (or CarFree Flyer) in August 2019. This flyer lists the alternative modes of transportation available at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It also consists of essential safety information, such as SafeRides, SafeWalks, DRES shuttles, Bicycle Safety Tips, Bike Registration, etc.
F&S has partnered with several departments across the University to distribute the information in this flyer to thousands of old and new students. For example, this flyer will be distributed to more than 3,000 incoming international students during their mandatory check-in at the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS). F&S has also partnered with MTD to distribute this flyer to students at the Quad Day.
Attached Files:Weekly Update
Associated Project(s):All, last Tuesday was BIKE TO WORK DAY! It was great! Great weather, great turnout, great conversation, great blindingly bright Vision Zero t shirts. I even sold some tubes and lights here at the Bike Center during the event and helped with some minor tune-ups. Peak times—no surprise—was 8:30 – 9am. After that a few stragglers hung around until l0.
On Saturday we had the Bike Rodeo at the ARC parking lot. While we didn’t have the huge turnout we were hoping for, the event ran really smoothly and we were able to educate and teach a lot about bike safety and bike-handling skills. Nothing beats showing a kid who’s barely taller than a bike pump how to air up their tires. Needless to say, that was a team effort.
This week will be a major shop clean and purge as we’ve received another 8 or so bikes from Champaign Cycle that are on-the-whole quality bikes that need somewhere to be stored. And last week with the doors open a lot of leaves and debris got blown into the shop, so that’ll all need cleaning up as well.Numbers:
Visitors: 70
Sales: $828.60
Bikes (refurb): 1 for $160
Memberships: 5 for $150
Tire/tube: 16 for $89Thanks!
- Jake Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Manager
- Jake Benjamin
Connecting F&S, TDM, and Wellness through student engagement
Associated Project(s):The UIUC Wellness Director Michelle Guerra, the Active Transportation Coordinator Lily Wilcock, and the F&S Director of Sustainability Morgan Johnston, are planning to identify a student to engage in the cross-section of the sustainability, wellness, and transportation efforts for this campus. There are several aspects of these efforts that overlap, yet it is difficult to find time to keep each other informed. The student could provide an important connection between these areas, while also learning of the inherently interdisciplinary aspects of sustainability, wellness, and transportation.
Active Transportation Coordinator on WCIA
Associated Project(s):http://www.illinoishomepage.net/current/current-live-guests/cumtd
I am talking in the “Biking” section on the playlist, though all the guests were interesting. Hope everyone had a great morning!
Lily Wilcock
Visiting Active Transportation Coordinator
Transportation Demand Management
Facilities and Services
CUUATS reported Grainger lighted crosswalk not recommended
Associated Project(s):The Champaign-Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS) prepared a report on the efficacy of the Grainger lighted crosswalk on Springfield Avenue at the Engineering Quad. Due to high maintenance needs, difficulty with the light activation system, and a false sense of security for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Springfield Avenue, this system is not recommended for future locations on campus. Safety for people crossing high-traffic streets can be enhanced with alternative lighted crosswalk systems that are more effective and provide more consistent safety improvements.
Bicycle Facilities and Programs Projects Continue
Associated Project(s):Student intern met with employees at Christopher Hall to make recommendations for new bike parking.
Submitted additional information about bike parking to the SSC, and were granted an award for $250,000 to revamp existing bike parking areas at various key locations throughout campus.
Campus Transportation Committee met and reviewed all bike related iCAP projects.
Bike sharing survey went live from the LINC course, as described above.
Staff met with employees at the Arboretum to make recommendations for new bike parking near the parking lot between the Idea Garden and the Japan House.
Staff met with Housing representatives to discuss a potential pilot trial of distributed bike parking enforcement. This would allow F&S to train and authorize certain key facility managers in proper procedures for impounding bikes parking improperly. Housing will draft a proposal in the next few months, then F&S will discuss the merits with appropriate campus representatives (such as Legal Counsel, the Parking Department, and Campus Planning) and determine how to proceed.
Sample Varsity Bike racks were provided for a one-year free trial to Champaign County Bikes. The Architecture Review Committee approved testing them at the east side of the Illini Union. The Union’s approval is pending an approval from SSC for the bike parking improvements at the southwest corner, with FY10 SSC funding.
Progress with MTD, Zipcar, and Chilled Water extension project
Associated Project(s):There is a Chilled Water extension project planned for this summer and fall along Springfield Avenue from Mathews to the Grainger Crosswalk. The Crosswalk pavement and ramps will be upgraded at that time, for enhanced pedestrian safety.
Met with the Parking Department and MTD about the costs for transit service and faculty/staff access for the University in the new MTD contract for FY13-15.
Met with the Zipcar partners in town about the status of the Zipcar program in the community. Our account rep will be changing for the first time in a couple of years, and we are eager to keep the program running strong.
MTD Very Small Starts project
Associated Project(s):Staff worked with CATS agencies about the MTD Very Small Starts project which could potentially lead to funding for complete streets in the University District on White Street, Wright Street, Green Street, and Armory Avenue.
MTD Contract Renewal and Car Sharing Promotions
Associated Project(s):Continued contract renewal work for the University and MTD three-year contract form FY13-FY15. The students approved recommended transportation fees which will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees this spring.
Staff held weekly conference calls with Zipcar about promoting car-sharing on campus, and provided input to the University of Iowa and Eastern Illinois University regarding their car sharing plans.
Campus Makes Public Transportation Improvements
Associated Project(s):Funding was approved for several pavement improvements on campus streets. These improvements will reduce gas consumption and corresponding emissions for vehicle traffic; restripe the bike lanes on a portion of Gregory Drive; extend the bike lanes on Fourth Street south to Kirby Avenue; add pedestrian countdown traffic signals at two signalized intersections; implement traffic calming measures, such as curb bump outs for increased pedestrian safety in key locations; and improve one block of the Illinois Marathon route on First Street, between Peabody Drive and Kirby Avenue.
Staff are participating in weekly conference calls with Zipcar to encourage the use of car sharing and active transportation on campus. A Zipcar winter welcome special offer was shared in the OS newsletter and through the OS twitter account.