8/06/04 - sustainability: transportation sub-group
meeting minutes
Friday, August 6, 2004

Attendees:
Moriah Demers, Shelley Dutton, Marie Matsen, Margaret Robertson

Minutes:
Marie discussed future plans. The Board has directed that a long-term transportation plan be developed. Data compiled by the sustainability transportation sub-group will help in the planning process. Decisions will need to be made about automobiles: How many parking spaces will there be? Will there be parking structures, which are expensive? Will there be more parking lots, which consume buildable land? In the future Marie envisions factoring environmental impact into traditional cost-benefit analyses.

Bicycles:
Shelley noted that many people would ride to campus from south Eugene if we could find a flatter route. Mo reported that the City of Eugene discussed bringing a bike path over Spring Blvd; the path would have gone through private land and would have cost $1 million, so the plan was dropped. She will contact Diane Bishop at the City. Mo recommended the website www.carbusters.org as a source of data and information.

Bus:
Mo noted there is often an information gap: people don't know there is a free bus pass, or that stickers and ID cards are available at any time during the term, not just certain days. We need a way of getting information to students. The LCC website has a link to the LTD website. Information shows that most people won't take a bus if they must walk farther than four blocks; an education effort could begin to modify behavior and encourage people to walk farther. Shelley suggested we have a meeting with LTD and get them on board early.

Action Items:
The table of data generated from the previous meeting was reviewed. For each entry for which data are not shown we identified where to get those data, and assigned tasks.

Mo will: Finalize a transportation survey she created; include qualitative data (reasons for not using bus, what would motivate, level of awareness); e-mail survey to team members. Coordinate conducting the survey at the ASLCC table the first week of class. Research data on true cost of driving and of parking. Investigate possible existence of ASLCC carpooling program. Contact Diane Bishop at the City for bike path information.

Margaret will: Consult with Craig Taylor at IRAP for data on future student/staff population, trips per day (total and per person), miles per day (total and per person), number of parking spaces per person. Coordinate conducting the above survey at fall staff in-service. Check with COPPS and Facilities for coordination of trips on college business. Determine number, location, and type of bike racks. Arrange meeting with Andy at LTD (including Susan and Shelley, if interested) to learn about number of bus routes by location, connections, and what LTD offers. Get number of bus pass stickers from Susan. Get data on college vehicle purchase, use, and maintenance.

Marie will: Provide information on strategic planning.