The USU Transportation Committee, a subcommittee to the USU Sustainability Council, is given the charge to examine, evaluate, and recommend changes to existing practices and policies regarding transportation issues as related to the University and its various constituents.  This includes faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the general public who interface from time to time with University functions and events. 

USU Carbon Footprint

The USU carbon footprint study found that transportation related issues account for nearly half (47%) of the University’s total greenhouse gas emissions for fiscal year 2007: 

• Commuting by students, faculty and staff contributes 27%
• Air travel by students, faculty and staff contributes 17%
• University fleet transportation contributes 3%

This committee will look for creative ways to reduce the impact of travel related issues and will make recommendations to the USU Sustainability Council and USU Officials to implement.

Take the Challenge:

Due to transportation contributing 47% of the total USU carbon footprint, the USU Transportation Committee will continue to:

• Encourage students, staff, and faculty to utilize mass transit whenever possible, including the USU shuttles, Cache Valley Transit District buses, and the Utah Transit Authority buses and trains,
• Promote bicycle commuting and constructing bike friendly campuses, and
• Encourage faculty and staff to telecommute to meetings to decrease commuting, whenever possible.

House Bill 110

In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of transportation, the University is required to comply with House Bill 110 “State Fleet Efficiency Requirements” (enacted in the 2007 sessions of the Utah State Legislature). 

The bill implements a statewide fleet cost efficiency plan that will have the net effect of increasing the state’s overall energy efficiency 20% by the year 2015, impacting the number and type of vehicles used to carry out daily business at USU. 

Current goal of the USU Transportation Department to implement House Bill 110:

• Downsize wherever possible both in size and volume of the USU fleet and encourage wise trip planning to reduce number of miles driven.

 
Reducing the University’s carbon footprint and complying with the provisions of HB110 will require a great deal of effort by the entire University community.  The Transportation Committee welcomes suggestions to help implement the needed measures to ensure success. 

Current Activities of the USU Transportation Committee:           

The USU Transportation Committee meets on a monthly basis to review University Policies that impact transportation issues.

Current discussions are focusing on the following areas:

• Right sizing vehicles and requiring the purchase of hybrid and/or alternate fuel vehicles when available in compliance with the Governor's Admistrivative Order.
• Consider the impacts of implementing a 4-day work week or other alternate work schedules to reduce commute and building energy requirements.
• Updating USU Policy Manual No. 514 “Vehicle Use Policy” to include changes in vehicle efficiency requirements, minimum use standards, maintenance standards and overall trip reduction, and clean air requirements.