Connie Ruth, EPASmart and Sustainable Campuses Conference

University of Maryland, November 3, 2005

Why It Makes Sense to Provide Campus Commuter Benefits

for Employees

Best Workplaces for CommutersSM

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Presentation OverviewBest Workplaces for CommutersSM

Parking: reducing demand saves money National Standard of Excellence for Commuter

Benefits List of Colleges and Universities Tax break from commuter benefits Environmental benefit : COMMUTER model Easy on-line application Making it happen on your campus

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“Obtaining a campus parking permit is really just obtaining a license to “hunt” for a parking space”

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“A parking lot is just a placeholder for a

future campus building”

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Average Cost to build new surface parking lot:

$1,500 to build 1 space +

$420/annual maintenance

Average Cost to build new parking garage

$17,400 to build 1 space + $740/annual maintenance

Save money: Reduce parking demand

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The choice is yours:

1 single parking space:

Up to $17,400 to build

Up to $740/annual

maintenance

OR

Subsidize a year’s

worth of transit for over 70 commuters!

Save money: Reduce parking demand

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What to do?

Establish a Comprehensive Commuter Benefits Program

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In 2000 EPA in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation established the

National Standard

of Excellence

for

Commuter Benefits

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The National Standard of Excellence for Commuter Benefits

Designate contact person, centralize information, and disseminate benefits information to employees

Offer excellent commuter benefits package Guaranteed/Emergency Ride Home

program One of four primary options Three or more supporting options Meet participation level (14% non-SOV)

Report success

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Primary Commuting Options

Choose one: Transit/vanpool subsidy Telecommuting Parking Cash-out Comparable Employer proposal

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Supporting Commuting Options

Choose 3 Active membership in TMA Up-to-date transportation information Bike lockers and showers Co-located with shops, day care, etc. Preferred parking for carpools/vanpools Compressed/flexible work schedules Rideshare matching Awards program Shuttles Many more options

on Web site

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1400 employers have achieved the Best Workplaces for Commuters designation and 20 Business Districts in 32 states

More than 2.8+ million employees are covered by the national standard of excellence for commuter benefits

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Best Workplaces for CommutersSM = transportation sustainability

2,800,000 commuters covered Nationwide 1400 Best Workplaces for

Commuters employers

3 billion vehicle miles traveled reduced in 2005

Sep 2001 – Sep 2005 :

4,440 tons N0x avoided 3.19 Million Metric tons CO2 avoided 372.3 million gallons gasoline saved $686 million in gasoline dollars saved

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Colleges and Universities Designated as Best Workplaces for Commuters (1 of 2)

as of October 20, 2005 Arizona State University Baylor College of Medicine Brigham Young University Cal Poly State University - San

Luis Obispo California State University,

Dominguez Hills California State University,

Fullerton California State University, Los

Angeles California State University,

Northridge California State University,

Sacramento Clayton College and State

University Colorado State University

Parking Services Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical

Center

Emory University George Mason University Harvard Medical School Harvard University Houston Graduate School of

Theology Lewis & Clark College Massachusetts College of

Pharmacy and Health Sciences Massachusetts Institute of

Technology Naropa University North Carolina State

University Pennsylvania State University San Jose State University Simmons College Southwestern Illinois College Stanford University Tacoma Community College

continued on next slide

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Colleges and Universities Designated as Best Workplaces for Commuters (2 of 2)

as of October 20, 2005 Tufts New England Medical

Center, Inc. University of Arizona University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Davis

Medical Center University of California, San Diego University of California, San

Francisco University of California, Santa

Barbara University of Colorado at Boulder University of Denver University of Massachusetts

Amherst University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin

Cities University of New Hampshire University off North Carolina at

Chapel Hill

University off North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Pittsburgh University of Texas at Austin University of Texas Health Science

Center at Houston University of Texas Medical Branch University of Utah University of Vermont University of Washington University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Vanderbilt University Virginia Tech Washington University Washington University School of

Medicine Wentworth Institute of Technology Western Washington University Yale University

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ReviewProviding parking is expensive

A comprehensive commuter benefit program can save money by reducing parking demand

Consider

Commuter benefits are a wise personnel investment that can enhance employee recruitment and retention.

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Commute Impacts Employees

36% of workers say they would be willing to take a 10% pay cut or more for a shorter commute

- 2001 Career Builder Survey, HR Magazine

14% of Americans have changed jobs or left a job primarily because of the commute

– 2005 ABC News Poll

16% of Americans will change their commute if gas prices continue to rise – 2005 Fuel Gauge Report

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Tax Savings from transit subsidy

Salary IncreaseTransit SubsidyInitial Cost $50.00 $50.00FICA Cost (7.65%) $4.00 $0.00

Parking Space Operational Costs $50.00 $0.00Corporate Inc. Tax Savings (40%) -$40.00 -$20.00Net Employer Cost/ Month $64.00 $30.00

Salary IncreaseTransit SubsidyInitial Benefit $50.00 $50.00FICA Cost (7.65%) -$4.00 $0.00Federal Income Tax (28 %) -$14.00 $0.00State Income Tax (6 %) -$3.00 $0.00

Net Employee Benefit/ Month $29.00 $50.00

Salary Increase vs. Transit Subsidy Monthly Comparison

Employee Benefit Comparison

Employer Cost Comparison

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“Free transit...helps in recruiting and is a perk

that employees appreciate.”

-Sherry Favre, Human Resources

Southwestern Illinois College

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“I regularly receive emails from commuter benefit participants telling

me that they have more personal time while in public transit.

Commuter benefits...are an excellent employee morale booster.”

- Doug Bowerman, Employee Transportation Coordinator-2004 University of Texas Health Sciences Center

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“We are the largest employer in our community and want to be a good neighbor. We recognize our impact on road congestion

and air quality, so we offer transit passes to mitigate our “footprint”

on the local community.”

-Renee Callaway, TDM Program Manager

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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“The daily movement of people back and forth to campus in automobiles burning fossil fuels is one of the largest impacts a typical educational institution

imposes on the support systems of the planet”

-Transportation & Sustainable

Campus CommunitiesToor and Havlick, 2004

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Reduce congestion improve air quality support a sustainable community

Impact of commuter benefits on the local community

Potential Yearly Reduction*

University Size

Number of drive-alone commuters

Greenhouse gases

(metric tons)

Gasoline savings (gallons)

Vehicle miles

traveled

Small 5,000 2,636 266,000 5.4 million

Medium 15,000 7,909 798,000 16.2 million

Large 30,000 15,818 1,595,000 32.4 million

* Based on EPA Calculations

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University of MichiganSaved $17 millionin constructioncosts by reducingdemand by 1,300spaces

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Emory University

Emory University found it costeffective to subsidize transit passesfor employees rather than build a1500 space parking garage at thecost of $15 million.

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Cornell UniversitySince 1991

Cornell commuters have traveled 10 million fewer miles

Annually saves417 thousand

gallons of gasoline

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COMMUTER ModelModel provides emissions output as well as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) saved and money saved on gasoline from employer program.

Accessed from: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/transp/conform/policy.htm#bwc-conform

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Saves you money by reducing parking demand

Enhances recruitment and retention

Demonstrates environmental leadership

The Case for Commuter Benefits

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Best Workplaces for CommutersGuaranteed spot on National Best

Workplaces for CommutersSM list. Positive press coverageExclusive rights to use

logo/designationNetworking opportunitiesTechnical assistance

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Assess where your campus is on the commuter benefits continuum

Very few Comprehensive

commuter benefits commuter benefits

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Considerations in achieving a Best Workpalcse for Commuters designation

Organization of Departments on your campus

Who are key decision makers regarding parking/transportation commuter benefits?

How can you best reach them with this message?

Are there local transportation professionals that can help? Is there a Transportation Management Organization in your area?

Alliance with local government for Emergency Ride Home?

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Resources available to you at bwc.gov

Online registrationCommuter Benefit

BriefsEmergency Ride Home ToolkitCOMMUTER ModelProgram Overview Presentation

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Online Registration is fast and Easy

www.bwc.gov Call our toll-free information

request line at 888-856-3131

ruth.connie@epa.gov

Questions and

Discussion