Sustainable Transportation

Sustainable Transportation promoted Rideshare week with an email campaign that went out to Sustainable Transportation participants. In conjunction with OCTA, participants pledged that they would rideshare during the week of October 6th-10th for various prizes.

One of our very own participants, Rick Fruchey won a $500 VISA gift card. Parking & Transportation Services wants to congratulate Mr. Fruchey on his win and thanks him for his continued contributions to Sustainable Transportation.

CELEBRATE UCI - Saturday, April 18 from 9 AM to 5 PM

One Day. One Campus. Many Options. Come to UCI's 31st annual Open House, one of the campus' oldest and most festive traditions. This spring event features games and rides for children, an Earth Day celebration, academic information, classic car show, campus tram tours, Wayzgoose Medieval Faire with food booths, demonstrations, rides, games, 3 stages of entertainment and much more. General campus offices such as Housing, Admissions, and Financial Aid are also open. Everyone Welcome! It's an excellent opportunity to bring family and friends to visit and see what's new with the UCI campus. Join the alumni, staff, faculty, and students as we Celebrate UCI! Events and Parking are FREE. For more information, call UCI at (949) 824-5182 or visit our website at www.uci.edu/celebrate.

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, Sustainable Transportation partnered up with UC Irvine's Bike Shop and showed cased the alternative modes to UC Irvine for not only the campus but the community at large. The Bike Shop displayed their products as well as raffled off a bike. Sustainable Transportation displayed their most recent award from Region IX – EPA that was presented to them days before in San Francisco.

Sustainable transportation gave away 5 "Anteater" beach cruisers to the following individuals; Audrey Kim, Amanda Napier, Todd Shaver, Courtney Gill and John Powers.

On Monday, May 11th and Tuesday, May 12th, 2009, Sustainable Transportation hosted Bike to Work Week pit stop near the UCI Bike Shop. Sustainable transportation provided light snacks and water for bike riders as well held a Bike raffle of 4 "Anteater" beach cruisers. Kevin Ansel, the lone staff member won one of the bikes with the following students; Alan Valencia, Alex Wu and Rafael Gonzalez winning the remaining 3 bikes. Sustainable Transportation is a proud supporter of Bike 2 Work week and encourages more and more individuals to try giving up their cars for a week and bike in to the campus.

As that popular old song goes, "in every season, turn, turn, turn" at UCI we continue to encourage turning to better solutions for a better living environment. Once again, about 2,000 employees descended on the ARC for another Wellness and Safety Fair check-up.

This year the prognosis appeared we had improved our behavior as bus load after bus load carrying campus employees pulled up to the fair entrance. Hundreds of cars were left at offices as the BioFuel shuttles filled up to capacity with fair attendees. We won't mention the former lot for the ARC was closed this year due to construction of course, but it did prove that circumstances and resources combined can help modify our behavior to encourage ridesharing together. The hidden message here…"U C I Can Rideshare".

Sustainable Transportation rideshare programs were on display at our booth for the many onlookers. We also showcased one of our campus Zipcars which supports Carsharing for commuters who leave their cars at home and need to run occasional errands now and then. A Zipcar was also used as a people mover at the event so more employees would become familiar with Carsharing.

This year we gave away two customized "Anteater" bikes that sport our school colors and mascot theme. The bikes attracted many interested employees to our booth for a try at the giveaway. When all was said and done, our congratulations went out to Diane Vargas Enriquez and Angie Alducente as the names which were pulled from the hat. Enjoy your Eater bikes folks! Two more green vehicles on the road!

On May 21st, Parking & Transportation Services hosted Autopalooza with the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) to provide 38-point vehicle inspections, do-it-yourself car care demonstrations, a car seat safety clinic, and other free services to the UCI community. Various vehicles were also on display including the Auto Club Funny Car; the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) Sustainable Transportation's three Toyota alternative energy vehicles—electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell; the Mechanical Engineering 189 race car and utility cart electric conversion project; and others. Over 200 UCI students, staff, and faculty came to the event and an additional 66 had their vehicles inspected by local AAA Approved Auto Repair Master Mechanics, receiving a written report of needed repairs to help them keep their vehicles running at their optimum safety and efficiency. After all, "A Safe Commute is a Green Commute!"

In honor of Rideshare Week (October 5th – 9th, 2009) we want to thank you for ridesharing!

Whether you are part of the walk, bike, shuttle, bus, train, carpool, or vanpool program, you are helping UCI eliminate congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Great job!

In recognition of your participation, one name from each mode will be randomly selected from the Rideshare database for a $75 gift certificate.

We plan to offer certificates from a selection of stores such as:

• Sports Authority
• Big 5
• Trader Joe's
• In-n-Out
• Lowe's

Names will be pulled and announced on Monday, October 12th.

Also, remember that you are eligible to enter to win OCTA’s Rideshare week prizes. Go to OCTA's website for information and entry guidelines.

In the last 2 years, UC Irvine Parking & Transportation has won 3 "Best Practices" Awards from the University of California, California State University, and California Community College Sustainability Conference.

The first award was in the category of Transportation Demand Management, which encompasses efforts to decrease drive-alone commutes and increase involvement in alternative modes of transportation. Specifically, the unit was recognized for its increases in biking and carpools through the Strategic Mobility Program. This program led to a 23% increase in biking through construction of bike paths, installation of more than 500 bike parking spaces (bringing the total to more than 2100), and increased signage/marking along paths. It also gave incentives to carpoolers, resulting in an increase in carpooling. Together, these efforts were instrumental in helping UCI obtain an exceptional Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR) of 1.87.

A second award was given in the area of Campus Owned & Operated Transportation for UC Irvine's B100 Campus Shuttle Program. Here, Parking & Transportation Services teamed with Facilities Management/Fleet Services, Environmental Health & Safety and ASUCI to convert the campus shuttle fleet to 100% biofuel. This effort made UCI the first campus in the nation to retrofit its fleet for B100. More importantly, by creating and installing a NOx filter, the program has resulted in real reductions in emissions. When compared to using petro-diesel, the B100 fleet has seen the following reductions:

• Unburned sulfur oxide -86 percent
• Carbon monoxide -39 percent
• Particulate matter -74 percent
• Reactive organic gases -41 percent
• Nitrous oxide -52 percent

The third award was given for UC Irvine's Project Greenlight, a program to decrease ON-campus emissions. This project utilizes commuter parking restrictions (for freshman and sophomores), increased campus shuttle service, optimized traffic signal timing, and Transit Signal Priority to decrease vehicle miles traveled on the campus, thereby reducing related emissions. Project Greenlight results in a savings of 566,280 vehicle trips, 4,312 hours of travel time, 74,000 gallons of fuel, and 330 tons of greenhouse emissions each year.

On October 1, 2008 members of UC Irvine Parking & Transportation were presented with a Clean Air Award at the South Coast Air Quality Management District's 20th Annual Clean Air Awards presentation ceremony.

The Clean Air Awards honor those "who have made a significant contribution to cleaner air through innovation, leadership and personal environmental commitment."

UC Irvine won the award based on 20 years of policies and programs aimed at encouraging people to move from driving alone to alternative forms of transportation.

These efforts have resulted in an Average Vehicle Ridership of 1.87, the highest for any institution of comparable size in Southern California. This, together with UC Irvine's other sustainable efforts, has brought a designation of "Best Workplaces for Commuters" by the EPA.

Each year, the California Governor and the California Environmental Protection Agency recognize "individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable contributions in conserving California's precious resources, protecting and enhancing our environment, and building public-private partnerships." It is the State of California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor.

UC Irvine Parking & Transportation Services was honored to win the 2008 Governor's Economic and Environmental Leadership Award in the area of Climate Change.

Together, UC Irvine's Sustainable Transportation programs eliminate over 39 million vehicle miles traveled, 18,600 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and saves the University more than $21 million each year.

Carpool permits are only $18/month. For 2 people this is $9 each; for 3 people it is $6 each. Better yet, get 4 or more and park for free. Individuals received 2 complementary parking permits per month for those days that they can not carpool together. The carpool permit allows individuals to park in RESERVED spots throughout campus.

On November 13, 2008, Peter the Anteater and the UCI Cheerleading squad joined members of UCI's vanpool community in celebrating a milestone - VPSI's 5000th (and UCI's 21st) vanpool.

To commemorate the event, Irvine Mayor Beth Krom, Tustin Mayor/OCTA Board Member Jerry Amante, Kathryn Higgins of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Associate Vice Chancellor for Administrative and Business Services Paige Macias, and Assistant Director of Parking & Transportation Services Christine Dacanay spoke about their support for vanpooling.

A highlight of the event was hearing from David McCafferty, long-time UCI vanpool rider and driver, who shared how he has benefitted from vanpooling through the years.

Monday, June 9, 2008, OCTA launched the first direct route from the Tustin Metrolink Train Station to UC Irvine (RT 473). Expanding the original Route 470 to cover a direct route on Red Hill (RT 472) and Harvard (RT 473) reaching the UC Irvine Campus. OCTA partnered up with the I-Shuttle (City of Irvine) and now has coverage on four major streets stemming from the Tustin Metrolink Train station.

In addition, Parking & Transportation Services offered $100 rebates to individuals who tried the new shuttle and purchased a monthly pass throughout the summer months.

More information: Route 472 information | Shuttle system map

Last April, Parking & Transportation Services conducted the annual randomized AQMD survey to selected employees on campus. Through the random sampling Parking and Transportation reached a 94% response rate with the help of survey coordinators from selected departments.

UC Irvine, as well as other large employers in the South Coast Air Basin must achieve over a 1.50 AVR each year. Parking & Transportation is proud to announce that over the last 3 years we have maintained an AVR over 1.70. In 2008, we achieved a 1.82 AVR slightly down from our full census in 2006 where we achieved a 1.87. Unfortunately this survey only counts the employee population and does not account for our large student population whom walk, bike and utilize both the ASUCI shuttles and the OCTA U-Pass program.

The survey is mandated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 2202. This rule was designed to reduce mobile source emissions from employee commuting, thus reducing air pollution. In order to comply with SCAQMD requirements and to protect the University from substantial financial penalties of up to $50,000 per day, we must achieve a 90% response rate on our campus wide survey.

In an effort to reduce landfill contributions for our campus, Parking and Transportation Services has joined forces with the Orange County Conservation Corps. Phase 1, targets all four parking structures and in a few more months Phase 2 will target all open air lots.

We purchased 50 blue recycle bins for Phase 1 and have installed them in our parking structures to encourage the campus community to separate their trash from reclaimable cans and bottles with just one quick toss. Next to each trash can, you will find our blue recycle barrels.

We will not only recycle cans and bottles, but our partnership with OCCC will strengthen the local OC chapter to help provide young people in our community an opportunity to learn skills and hands-on job training.

Roll out the barrels!

Phase 2 is going into place now as we roll out the barrels again! As mentioned before, we have an exciting partnership with Orange County Conservation Corps to not only reduce UCI landfill volumes but to also assist in their efforts to help provide job training for OC youth who want a chance in life to succeed and better improve their own environments and destinies.

Now we have covered our outdoor open air lots with blue recycle bins to provide you with the one toss option to improve the environment we live in. Please look for these bins as you empty your vehicles of reusable materials on the way to work or class.

What wonderful thing it is, to turn your trash into a barrel of treasure!

Sustainable Transportation hits the streets for a community outreach at nearby Venado Middle School in Irvine.

Our Director, Stacey Murren was keynote speaker at two back-to-back student assemblies for an environmental science week. The purpose was to educate students on environmental concerns for our planet, at an age appropriate level, so students could consider how human activity affects the planet.

Stacey Murren having a teaching background of her own made a direct connection with the students who seemed to listen to her every word. She used attention getting tools such as free bike bells and nature hiking bags, to reward students responding to her environmental questions.

At the end of the event, the students eagerly gathered around to all receive custom made bookmarks we produced to remind students about want they learned. The bookmarks included reminder bullet points to extend the educational experience for months and months to come.