Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.03
Liaison Mark Lichtenstein
Submission Date June 7, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Melissa Fierke
Associate Professor,
Environmental Forest Biology
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:

ESF has indoor bicycle storage available in our residence hall for students. Employees, students and staff have access to showers and lockers (immediately across the street from where ESF commuters lock their bicycles). ESF also has some outdoor covered bike storage.


Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking for all occupied buildings and makes long-term bicycle storage available for students who live on-site (if applicable)?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

ESF has bike racks (parking) on the main campus. The College also has some outdoor covered bike storage.


Does the institution have a bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy (or adhere to a local community plan/policy) that sets standards and practices for campus streets to enable safe access for all users?:
No

A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
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Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:

In the fall of 2013, ESF implemented a bike-share program. Senior environmental study majors developed a program that enables students to borrow bikes for a small deposit. Students in need of two-wheel transportation can go to the College Library, fill out the necessary paperwork that includes a waiver and renter's agreement, and pay the $20 Bike Library membership fee that will entitle students to unlimited rentals.


Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the mass transit programs:

The local public bus service (Centro) operates seven days a week from 7:30 am until 2:30 am, connecting ESF with and downtown Syracuse and other regional locations. Special extended service during the evening hours and weekends is offered. A "Connective Corridor" bus is free for all riders. Centro also offers an everyday extensive system of bus routes connecting ESF commuters to surrounding community areas, by utilizing the “free-fare zone” program, free with a valid ESF ID.


Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
No

A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
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Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
No

A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:

ESF is in the process of re-examining its carpool and ride sharing program, based on its recent survey of commuter habits and suggestions.


Does the institution participate in a car sharing program, such as a commercial car-sharing program, one administered by the institution, or one administered by a regional organization?:
Yes

A brief description of the car sharing program:

ESF, in partnership with Syracuse University, has participated in ZipCar since December 2007. Since then, students, faculty, and staff from ESF have been taking advantage of the car-sharing program by self-reserving online one of the five available Zipcars—24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:

A public station is installed on the Centennial Hall Residences property.


Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

A brief description of the telecommuting program:

This is offered with permission of a supervisor.


Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week option:

During the summer months.


Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:

Yes, there is a special mortgage option for employees who purchase a property near the College.


Does the institution employ other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting (e.g. preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles, cash-out of parking programs)?:
Yes

A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:

- ESF is in the process of installing skateboard docks (parking) for its students to be ready by the spring of 2016.
- For over five years, ESF's bike safety committee has been actively and tirelessly advocating for safer and more convenient access routes to and from campus, especially along a main corridor (Euclid ave.) that connects the residential University neighborhood area to the main campus in Syracuse. The Committee Chair has received a tentative promise, in writing, from the city of Syracuse's Mayor, committing to bike lanes around campus in the fall of 2016, including on Euclid ave. ESF looks forward to this projects' implementation. Euclid bike lane initiative: http://www.esf.edu/bicycle/safetyplan.htm


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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