The University is addressing the adverse consequences of being primarily a commuter campus by investing in policies to reduce commuting, by increasing use of alternative modes of transportation, and by use of alternative energy technology.
Main Strategies
- Reduce total number of commuting miles
- Reduce use of single occupancy vehicles for commuting
- Reduce emissions associated with vehicle use on campus
Objectives for 2023
- Reduce vehicle miles traveled by faculty, staff, and students by 10%
- Increase share of alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles for commuting from 26% to 40%
- Gain recognition as a Bicycle-Friendly University
- Reduce, with a goal of eventual elimination, vehicle use in the campus core
- Reduce average emissions associated with university fleet operations (non- construction/maintenance vehicles) by 50%
- Systematize transport data collection
2017-18 Priorities and Outcomes
- Test an EV replacement vehicle for PPM trucks and vans.
- Two gasoline-powered trucks were retired and replaced with electric carts, but an electric vehicle that performs all the functions for PPM’s trucks and vans has not been identified.
- Establish a “Sustainable Transportation” parking location on campus.
- Sixteen spots have been identified for the sustainable transportation parking location. This will include four existing EV chargers and twelve for vehicles that meet the California Clean Air Vehicles requirements. These additional spaces may also receive Level 1 EV Chargers and will be properly labeled and promoted as such over the summer.
- Implement a Parking Guidance System.
- Digital signs displaying the number of parking spaces remaining in each structure will be installed at the G3, B3 and G6 parking structures. Construction on these systems will begin over the summer.
- Complete the Transportation Survey.
- Transportation surveys for employees and students were distributed and received approximately 3,000 and 2,000 responses respectively. This will become an annual process to help accurately measure CSUN’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Develop a Bicycle Education Program.
- Bicycle education was conducted in conjunction with the launch of a dockless bikeshare program on campus. Proper riding practices and resources were promoted at the Alternative Transportation Fair and Earth Fair, as well as through the AS Sustainability and Institute for Sustainability newsletters and the CSUN sustainability website.
- Improve bicycle infrastructure and signage.
- A Campus Quality Fee application was submitted to expand bike racks in critical areas across campus. Additionally, a survey of all campus and housing bike racks was conducted to map coverage, availability, and condition of bike racks
Other Highlights
- Dockless bikeshare program Limebike was launched at CSUN with a fleet of 400 bikes. Since January 2016, CSUN’s 10,300 active users have ridden over 30,000 miles using Limebikes.
- Through a Second Nature Grant, the campus purchased three EV charging units with two charging ports each. These will be installed in summer of 2018.
- The AS Ticket Office sold 4,111 transit passes for Metro and AVTA. Over 631,000 rides were taken using the Metro U-Pass.
- This year was the first time that the Metro U-Pass was made available to graduate students.
- Zip Car is currently serving over 390 active members at CSUN.
- ZimRide saw nearly 800 active users this year, which was made up of primarily students but also included staff and faculty.
2018-19 Priorities
- Conduct one unified CSUN Campus Transportation Survey for students, staff and faculty to gather data required to calculate CSUN’s Greenhouse Gas emissions.
- Develop and implement a No-Idling Policy.
- Provide a lower cost housing parking permit and disallow annual housing parking permits in campus parking lots.
- Determine the feasibility of purchasing transit passes and vanpool passes under pre-tax Commute Choice benefits option.
- Pilot Level 1 EV Charging spaces.
Check out CSUN's ridesharing network through Zimride!
Student Oppurtunities to Live On-Campus
Issue:
TR1.1
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Increase opportunities to live on campus for students following Campus Master Plan.
Status:
New Student Housing to be completed for Fall 2015. Will bring total number of beds to 3,500. 2,700 apartment style and 800 dormitory style.
Party Responsible:
FPDC, Housing
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
Staff Opps to Live Locally
Issue:
TR1.2
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Increase opportunities to live close to campus for faculty and staff following Campus Master Plan
Status:
No action taken
Party Responsible:
FPDC, TUC
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line yet
Live Local and Reduce Commuting
Issue:
TR1.3
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Offer incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus and to reduce weekly commuting miles
Status:
No action taken
Party Responsible:
FA, HR, PS
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line item
Alternative Instruction
Issue:
TR1.4
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Continue using alternative instruction technologies, such as online and hybrid courses, to offer the potential to reduce total number of weekly commutes by students
Status:
On-going.
Party Responsible:
Faculty, IS
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Alt transport funding
Issue:
TR2.1
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Expand funding structure to support alternative modes of transportation
Status:
No action taken.
Party Responsible:
FPDC, AS, PS
Next/Action Items:
No action taken.
Expand shuttle hours
Issue:
TR2.2
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Expand the hours of shuttle service to Northridge Metrolink station
Status:
This has been discussed by the TWG, but will require additional funding.
Party Responsible:
AS, PS
Next/Action Items:
AS and PS need to determine a funding source.
Ride Sharing Programs
Issue:
TR2.3
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Implement ride sharing programs for students.
Status:
Associated Students has purchased an annual license to Zimride to provide ride sharing services for CSUN affiliates. Users can become a part of this ride sharing network at https://www.zimride.com/csun.
Party Responsible:
SA, AS, PS
Next/Action Items:
In progress.
AS/TWG to determine whether to continue the use of Ridelinks or utilize a different product.
Car-Sharing Program
Issue:
TR2.4
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Implement a car-sharing program
Status:
Car-sharing is being done through ZipCar, a successful program run through AS.
Party Responsible:
AS
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. AS to continue growing the Zip Car program.
Preferential parking
Issue:
TR2.5
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Develop preferential parking for carpools, van pools, motorcycles and high-efficiency vehicles
Status:
Discussions are underway in conjunction with car-sharing program.
Party Responsible:
SA, AS, PS
Next/Action Items:
FPDC and PS need to pilot a “Sustainable Transportation” parking location on campus.
Tiered Parking Fees
Issue:
TR2.6
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Study feasibility of tiered parking fees based on vehicle type and proximity to campus core
Status:
No action taken.
Party Responsible:
PS
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line item.
Alt Transport Incentives
Issue:
TR2.7
Priority:
Strategy:
Continue and expand financial incentives for using alternative means of transportation
Status:
No action taken.
Party Responsible:
FPDC, AS, PS
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line item.
Bike Circulation Infrastructure
Issue:
TR2.8
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Create campus pedestrian and bicycle master plan to improve pedestrian safety and infrastructure for bicycle circulation.
Status:
Jacaranda Walk Bike Path completed 13/14FY.
No action this year.
Party Responsible:
FPDC
Next/Action Items:
FPDC needs to apply for the CQF grant or seek alternative funding to improve bike circulation infrastructure and complete a bicycle plan for campus.
Bike Parking Infrastructure
Issue:
TR2.9
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Improve bicycle parking by increasing the overall capacity and by replacing most of the existing bike racks with safer types.
Status:
Funding received for Sequoia Hall & Oviatt area under Dec 2013 CQF award. Additional funding received for under CQF submitted Dec 2014.
Party Responsible:
FPDC
Next/Action Items:
In-progress: Continue to Apply for CQF grants to improve bike parking infrastructure.
Bike Shop; Bike Rental Program
Issue:
TR2.10
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Establish a bike shop and a bike rental program.
Status:
No action taken this year.
Party Responsible:
AS
Next/Action Items:
No action taken this year.
Education Program
Issue:
TR2.11
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Establish an education program to provide information on availability, safety, and rules of operation on all available modes of transportation on campus.
Status:
A Transportation Guide was created that outlines the various options for transportation.
Party Responsible:
FPDC, IS, PS, AS
Next/Action Items:
In progress. FPDC and PS to develop signage in conjunction with marketing/awareness campaign.
Coordination with Agencies
Issue:
TR2.12
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Coordinate efforts on campus with government agencies to support alternative transportation modes, such as improving and expanding bus lines and improving sidewalks around the campus.
Status:
Ongoing, there has been some progress made with Metro and the councilman’s office.
Party Responsible:
IS, PS
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Pedestrian Infrastructure
Issue:
TR2.13
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Improve pedestrian circulation and safety by extending sidewalks and utilizing traffic slowing strategies on crosswalks
Status:
On-going.
Party Responsible:
FPDC
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Pre-Tax Transit Passes
Issue:
TR2.14
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Study feasibility of permitting purchase of transit passes and vanpool passes under pre-tax Commute Choice benefits
Status:
Under investigation.
Party Responsible:
HR, PS
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
EV Charging Stations
Issue:
TR3.1
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Install more electric vehicle chargers including solar-powered chargers
Status:
Current count is 22. 1 additional to be opened with Engineering Student Project.
Party Responsible:
CECS faculty, FPDC, PS
Next/Action Items:
On-going. PS to continue installation as needed.
Info Centers
Issue:
TR3.2
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Construct additional transportation information center(s) and/or kiosks
Status:
No action taken.
Party Responsible:
FPDC
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line item.
Discourage Campus Traffic
Issue:
TR3.3
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Discourage traffic through the campus. Phase-in elimination of vehicular traffic from Lindley Avenue, Plummer Street and Etiwanda Avenue and strive for a car-free campus
Status:
On-going.
Party Responsible:
FPDC
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Alternative Transportation Days
Issue:
TR3.4
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Implement pilot programs for alternative transportation days.
Status:
No action taken.
Party Responsible:
FPDC, PS
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line item.
Pedestrian and Bike Only Zones
Issue:
TR3.5
Priority:
3
Strategy:
Implement more pedestrian-only and bike-only zones
Status:
No action taken.
Party Responsible:
FPDC
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line item
Lower Cost Housing Permit
Issue:
TR3.6
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Restrict lower-cost parking permit for students in housing to park in housing area only
Status:
No action taken.
Party Responsible:
Housing, PS
Next/Action Items:
No specific plans for this line item
Parking on Periphery
Issue:
TR3.7
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Promote use of lower cost lots on the campus periphery
Status:
PS has reduced the cost of parking in the F5 lot to encourage parking on the periphery of campus.
Party Responsible:
PS
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. PS to evaluate this program.
No-Car Policy in Housing
Issue:
TR3.8
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Explore an option to incentivize a no-car-policy for freshmen living on campus
Status:
No current plans or discussions on this.
Party Responsible:
FPDC, PS, Housing
Next/Action Items:
No current plans or discussions on this.
Car Sharing
Issue:
TR3.9
Priority:
Strategy:
Facilitate car-sharing amongst student population
Status:
See TR2.4.
Party Responsible:
AS
Next/Action Items:
See TR2.4.
Smart Parking
Issue:
TR3.10
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Develop and encourage use of “smart parking” software.
Status:
PS is exploring car count system technology for structures.
Party Responsible:
IS, SA, AS, PS
Next/Action Items:
In-progress. PS may purchase a commercial application.
Zero Emission Fleet
Issue:
TR3.11
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Seek alternatives that work toward a zero emission fleet.
Status:
PS is taking officers out of their vehicles to do foot and bicycle patrol. All AS recycling services are collected via electric carts, with plans to expand their electric fleet.
Party Responsible:
PPM, PS
Next/Action Items:
PPM and PS need to continue to evaluate the campus fleet and determine a baseline for vehicles.
Avoid Motorized Vehicle Use
Issue:
TR3.12
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Avoid motorized vehicle use where possible.
Status:
Various departments utilize electric carts and bicycles where feasible.
Party Responsible:
FPDC, PPM, PS
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Purchase Alternative Vehicles
Issue:
TR3.13
Priority:
Strategy:
Purchase electric, hybrid, or non-motorized vehicles where feasible, otherwise choose
smaller gasoline-powered vehicles.
Status:
On-going.
Party Responsible:
PPM, PS
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Maintain Vehicles
Issue:
TR3.14
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Continue to regularly maintain vehicles in top condition.
Status:
Preventative maintenance is scheduled on all campus vehicles.
Party Responsible:
PPM
Next/Action Items:
On-going
Travel Behavior Surveys
Issue:
TR3.15
Priority:
2
Strategy:
Conduct bi-annual surveys for students travel behavior
Status:
Campus-wide Commuting Survey completed this year.
Party Responsible:
IS
Next/Action Items:
On-going.
Reduced Deliveries
Issue:
TR3.16
Priority:
1
Strategy:
Establish designated delivery/pick-up days for OfficeMax, FedEx, UPS, and other campus vendors to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions.
Status:
Reduced deliveries are being accomplished through the OfficeMax dollar amount order limit.
Party Responsible:
PCA
Next/Action Items:
In-progress.
