| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.37 |
| Liaison | Jay Price |
| Submission Date | April 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Preston
Jacobsen Sustainability Manager Facilities Services |
Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
Faculty/staff can get a free locker and access to shower facilities in the HPER building on campus.
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)?:
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
UT has over 1500 bike racks on campus available for use, including at least one outside of every residential and occupied, non-residential buildings.
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?:
A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
Currently, UT has several bike paths, including the city of Knoxville's greenways, that run through campus and connect the campus to downtown Knoxville. Additionally, several of the streets running through campus have dedicated bike lanes. The UT Knoxville Long Range Master Plan 2016 Update contains numerous exciting transit improvements, including expansions to the greenway and bike lane networks. "One of the most significant features of the transportation component of the master plan is the accommodation of bicycles. These include expanding the Joe Johnson and John Ward Pedestrian Mall and providing a bike path its entire length. The bike path would consist of a six foot lane in each direction on the outside of the mall. The bike path needs to be aesthetically pleasing, yet designed for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. The Volunteer Blvd. Streetscape will include either a bike lane or ‘sharrow’. However, by removing on-street parking and adding traffic calming features such as speed tables the overall safety to cyclists should increase. The bike path south of Neyland Stadium would connect the Neyland Drive and Second Creek Greenway with the heart of the campus and provide bicyclists a safer way onto campus than Lake Loudoun Boulevard. Lake Loudoun Boulevard cannot be widened to accommodate bicyclists, but sharrow pavement markings (a bicyclists symbol painted on the street when it is not wide enough to accommodate a bike lane) can be installed along with share-the-road signs to help protect bicyclists and provide motorists with a reminder to be on the lookout for them. The Joe Johnson Avenue Bridge connecting the Ag and main campus has shoulders that are marked for bike lanes." -http://masterplan.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2016/07/2016_MP_Book.pdf
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
The University of Tennessee Outdoor Program (UTOP) has a bicycle rental program that allows students and faculty to rent a bike for a semester or year. Over 50 commuter bikes per semester are rented. Semester-long rentals are $40 and include a helmet and a u-lock, as well as free maintenance at the Bike Shop. Short term mountain bike or road bike rentals are also available for $12/day or $20/weekend.
Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
A brief description of the mass transit programs:
The University of Tennessee’s transit system, “The T”, provides our students, staff, faculty, and visitors a safe, convenient, and efficient campus-wide transportation service. Service is fare-free for all passengers. Each "T" has four USB charging stations located at the back of each vehicle, real time GPS tracking to monitor current location and arrival time, works with a UT mobile app for updates, has front-of-vehicle bicycle racks, and us accessible to people with disabilities. (http://ridethet.utk.edu/) Additionally, semester passes are available for buses from the Knoxville Area Transit (city bus line) to students only (not faculty or staff) of any participating area college or university. Passes are $130 and good for 130 days from first use.
Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
As the University of Tennessee is a sponsor and member of the Knox Smart Trips program, faculty and staff who have a registered account are offered Emergency Ride Home vouchers each year. "Smart Trips Emergency Ride Home program provides a free ride home from work for employees who have an emergency on a day that they used alternative transportation. When an employee who used alternative transportation to get to work has an emergency, Smart Trips ERH program will pay for their ride home – up to 60 miles one way. The ERH program does not cover rides for personal errands, pre-scheduled medical or other appointments, or other instances where transportation could have been scheduled in advance. The only side trip allowed would be to pick up a sick child at day care or school on the way home. Upon joining Smart Trips, [participants] will be provided with access to 2 printable Emergency Ride Home vouchers. If you use these vouchers properly and remain an active participant, you will receive access to an additional voucher each time you use a voucher, up to 5 total vouchers per year between August 1 and July 31." http://smarttrips.knoxtrans.org/ridehome.htm
Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:
UT Knoxville participates in Knox Smart Trips, a transportation demand management program that provides free ride matching services to participating faculty and staff.
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?:
A brief description of the car sharing program:
Zipcar now has vehicles available for rent at two convenient locations on campus. UT students, faculty, and staff can sign up now and the first-year membership fee will be waived thanks to a grant from the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization. (http://parking.utk.edu/alternative-transportation/#car-sharing) Two Ford Focus Sedans, a Honda Fit, and a Nissan Versa are available to students, facult and staff.
Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
UT has seventeen electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on campus available to the campus community and the public. Electric vehicle owners with a valid student, faculty or staff parking permit can obtain a special EV permit from the Parking and Transit Services Office at no additional cost, and will be able to use the EV spaces and charging stations for up to four hours at a time. The general public may also use the spaces and stations if they acquire a visitors permit at the Circle Park information booth or either of the Parking and Transit Services offices.
Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
At their discretion, any UT Knoxville department may choose to offer a telecommute program for employees.
Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
A brief description of the condensed work week option:
At their discretion, any UT Knoxville department may choose to offer a compressed work week to its employees.
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
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)?:
A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.