Transportation Impacts and Trends
Total Use
The College has a variety of associated transportation uses, including travel for official college duties (e.g. conferences, research, meetings), daily commuting for faculty and staff, yearly commuting for students, travel for Study Abroad programs, and general travel habits. The College also owns a fleet of vehicles that it uses for on- and off-campus travel duties.
In 2009-10, College air travel included the following (best estimate from available sources):
- 2,278,114 miles - Study Abroad travel
- 8,806,935 miles - annual student commuting to/from campus (two round trips)
- 1,711,022 miles - other campus-funded travel
In 2009-10, College road travel included the following (best estimate from available sources):
- 50,574 miles - annual student commuting to/from campus (two round trips)
- 4,513,464 miles - staff/faculty daily commuting
- 175,815 miles - campus fleet travel
- 7,455 miles - other campus-funded travel
Staff-faculty commuting methods
- 57 percent of commuting trips are made by people driving alone
- 22 percent are carpooled
- 11 percent walking
- 6 percent biking
- 2 percent taking the train
- Less than 1 percent by bus
- Less than 1 percent by motorcycle.
The survey also indicates that:
- 47 percent of commuting trips are less than 5 miles
- 12 percent 5-9 miles
- 10 percent 10-14 miles
- 7 percent 15-19 miles
- 4 percent 20-24 miles
- 6 percent 25-29 miles
- 4 percent 30-34 miles
- 3 percent 35-39 miles
- 7 percent 40+ miles
Progress toward goals for 2020
The following table includes relevant objectives from the College's Sustainability Action Plan.
| Data point | 09-10 | 08-09 | 2020 Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campus fleet gas use (gallons) | 10,819 | 5,059 | 4,300 gallons (15% reduction over 08-09) |
| Single-occupancy vehicle commuting miles | 3,298,269 | 2,403,269 | 2,163,588 miles (10% reduction over 08-09) |
| % vehicles alternatively fueled | 1% | 1% | 50% |
| Compliance with vehicle purchasing stds. | Yes | Yes | Yes |