Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.83
Liaison Leslie North
Submission Date Jan. 9, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Western Kentucky University
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" 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:

Showers for bicycle commuters exist in several campus buildings, including the Activities Center and 3 LEED certified buildings.
http://www.wku.edu/transportation/biking.php


Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking (e.g. racks) within 50 ft (15 m) of all occupied, non-residential buildings and make long-term bicycle storage available within 330 ft (100 m) of all residence halls (if applicable)?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

WKU main campus offers more than 600 bicycle racks, including all residence halls and academic buildings. Rack map is available on the P&T webpage.
http://www.wku.edu/transportation/biking.php


Does the institution have a “complete streets” or bicycle accommodation policy (or adhere to a local community policy) and/or have a continuous network of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths and lanes?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle/pedestrian policy and/or network:

A multi-use Greenways trail goes through the main campus, connecting to downtown on one end, and south campus on the other. Bicycle lanes are included on main streets around campus. Route map is available on the P&T webpage.
http://www.wku.edu/transportation/biking.php


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:

Big Red Bikes, sponsored in collaboration between Parking and Transportation Services and the Office of Sustainability, lends gently-used refurbished bikes to any student, faculty or staff for 2-week durations.
http://www.wku.edu/sustainability/brb/index.php


Is the institution certified as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists (U.S.) or under a similar third party certification covering non-motorized transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the certification, including date certified and level:

WKU became a bronze level Bicycle Friendly University certification in 2013.


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 program(s), including availability, participation levels, and specifics about discounts or subsidies offered (including pre-tax options):

WKU Parking and Transportation Services offers 75% reduced mass transit passes to faculty, students, and staff.


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

A brief description of the GRT 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?:
Yes

A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:

WKU P&T offers the AlternetRides ridesharing program to students, faculty, and staff.
http://www.wku.edu/transportation/car_free/carpooling.php


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:

WKU P&T offers Enterprise car sharing program, with 2 vehicles stationed on main campus for students, faculty, and staff.
http://www.enterprisecarshare.com/car-sharing/program/wku


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:

Presently one electric vehicle recharging station exists on campus.


Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
No

A brief description of the telecommuting program:
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Does the institution offer a condensed work week option for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week program:

Recognizing the increasing demands and necessary balancing between employees' personal lives and the workplace, alternative work arrangements may assist a unit/department in recruiting and retaining of employees and in maximizing employee potential. Employees may benefit from alternative arrangements through more concentrated time off, a decrease in the number of commute days and by working a schedule that allows for increased productivity because of work flow changes.
In seeking to make workplace expectations and employee needs as compatible as possible, supervisors/department heads are permitted to consider and approve alternative work arrangements when requested by employees and when unit/departmental needs can accommodate such. Supervisors/department heads are accountable for ensuring continued efficient operations.

A compressed workweek refers to a workweek (totaling 37.5 hours) that is condensed into fewer than five (5) days. Under this arrangement, employees may work longer days for part of a given week in exchange for shorter days or days off during the remainder of the week.

http://www.wku.edu/policies/docs/115.pdf


Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
No

A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
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Does the institution have other incentives or programs to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and reduce the impact of student and employee commuting?:
Yes

A brief description of other sustainable transportation initiatives and programs:

WKU Transportation Services is committed to providing safe, courteous, and efficient transportation for students, faculty, staff, and the general public to the WKU campus. A variety of transit services are provided for the WKU community. Service is FREE to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Two fixed day service routes (White Line and Red Line) move passengers from point to point around campus.

Two off-campus routes (Green Line and Purple Line) are used to transport passengers to and from area shopping, recreation, and housing centers.

Para-transit service is provided for disabled passengers and requires an ADA boarding pass, which is available at the PTS office at no charge. All Topper Transit buses are wheelchair lift equipped.

On weekdays, more than 5000 passengers utilize this service each day.
In 2014 shuttle use increased by 22%.


The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable transportation program(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.