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Transport 

UNC Charlotte is a genuine urban university. The main campus is in University City, one of the fastest growing areas of the Charlotte region.

The University City Campus is “surrounded by major arterials, such as WT Harris and North Tryon Street” (Circulation Master Plan 2007).  The majority of motor vehicle activity connected to UNC Charlotte results from commuters and errands.  There is little to no easy walking connectivity to the surrounding shopping areas due to the major arterials mentioned above.

Highlights from the 2007 Transport Survey reinforce the commuter nature of the UNC Charlotte Campus

·         ¾ of students, staff and faculty commute by car to campus

·         80% of students who live within a mile of the university walk to campus

·         Only 15% of survey respondents utilize the CATS service

·         40% of respondents live 10 miles or more from campus

..\..\Circulation Master Plan\DRAFT Final 11-13-06\APPENDIX A_Survey.pdf

 Best Practices

 Transportation Programs

Fleet Management

Over the past few years, Facilities Management at UNC Charlotte has developed and implemented an ambitious strategy to have a cleaner and greener fleet.  UNC Charlotte’s Automotive Fleet administration has taken a proactive stance by creating a fleet of alternatively fueled vehicles.  These electric vehicles have replaced many gasoline carts and similar high emissions vehicles all over the campus. North Carolina has mandated that 75 percent of all state automotive fleets operate on alternative fuel by January of 2009 and reduce the use of petroleum products by 20% by January 2010. The University has added approximately 65 low-speed, electric vehicles along with 19 flex-fuel (E-85 or gasoline) vehicles for a total of 84 alternative fueled vehicles (AFUs) to UNC Charlotte’s Automotive Fleet. UNC Charlotte is willing to set a leading example to other fleets.

Many of these vehicles are neighborhood electric vehicles/low speed vehicles (NEV/LSVs) that perform a variety of functions on campus, including:  grounds keeping, maintenance, parking services, student services, housekeeping and construction.

All new vehicles are required to be either Electric Powered or Flex Fuel (E-85).  Our policy is to not purchase any gasoline powered vehicles.

Program highlights

• Added: 13 additional vehicles. Electric and Flex Fueled Micro-trucks w/ 1 Liter engines
• Purchased 8 EV’s, 8  Micro-Trucks or Micro-Vans with 1 Liter / Flex Fueled Engines to replace gasoline powered vehicles
• Replaced 3 Ford F-150 (gasoline) pick-up trucks with 2, Ford F-150 Flex Fuel (E-85) trucks and 1, Flex Fuel (E-85) Micro-truck with a 1 Liter engine
• Replaced: 1995 Ford F-250 pick-up (gasoline) with a 2008 Ford F-350 Diesel
• Replaced 2, 1997 Dodge and 1, 1995 E-350 Ford 15 passenger vans with more fuel efficient 2008 Ford E-350 15 Passenger vans (gasoline).  Started using E-10 in our main gasoline tank (12,000 gallon capacity). Started using E-85 in all Flex Fueled units as soon as our E-85 tank was operational. Started using our new Fuel Master System on 1-1-08 when it became operational.

The projected annual savings for the EVs is approximately $11,256 in fuel savings, preventative maintenance labor, materials and other internal labor costs.   By incorporating NEVs and EVs into our fleet, UNC Charlotte has been able to lower operating costs, and more importantly, reduce air and noise pollution on campus.

Campus Public Transit Connectivity

The UNC Charlotte campus is currently served by five total routes.  Two routes provide connectivity to off-campus locations; CATS lines: 11U serving midtown and 29 serving the South Park area. 

Car Pooling and Biking

Parking Services has implemented a “Hang Tag” system where employees may share the cost of a parking permit, thus encouraging car pooling.  Multi-vehicle hangtags allow many people to share the cost of the permit, significantly reducing the individual cost.  This permit may be moved between all vehicles registered by any individual who owns the permit.  There are no additional fees once the multi-vehicle hangtag is purchased. Existing permits may be upgraded to a carpool permit.  However, there is not currently a car pooling program on campus that offers guaranteed rides home or the other staples associated with this type of program.

Biking at UNC Charlotte is limited; results from the Transport Survey suggest that only 1% of the population use a bike as a primary form of transport.  The University installs bike racks at most buildings and designates bikes lanes on campus roads.

Hertz Connect

Connect by Hertz offers qualified drivers, ages 18 years and up, environmentally friendly vehicles to rent at a low rate – by the hour or the day.

Taxi services

Parking and Transportation Services has negotiated a partnership with Yellow Cab Company to provide discounted, flat rate taxi service for short distance travel near campus and common destination points such as UNC Charlotte’s uptown center and the airport.

Awareness Campaigns

The UNC Charlotte Environmental Assistance Office has led two major efforts to raise awareness:  the Clean Air Works and Pump Em Up campaigns.  Both campaigns were aimed at raising awareness of air pollution issues, primarily caused by transport emissions, and the actions and the choices faculty, staff and students make.