Transportation

Policies & Principles Environmental Council Environmental Studies Program Fellowships in Environmental Journalism Archives

SUMMARY:

Shortage of Parking Spaces
Although not all of the faculty/staff cars have been reregistered under the new annual system of registration, it is safe to assume that the majority of faculty and staff commute by car. Our numbers show that there are 1095 full and part time employees, however many of these work different shifts or occasional events, so the number of employee vehicles is estimated at 850-900. In a count done by Jennifer Hazen in the spring of 1997, the total number of spaces on campus was approximately 1966 spaces. With the changes in the area along route 125, there may be a few less spaces, and some of the category totals may have changed somewhat. New construction will be adding on approximately 200 spaces at the Ridgeline area and Bicentennial Hall in the next few years, but it is not obvious that this will solve all problems. Excessive Parking in Center of Campus
Attempts to remove the majority of vehicles from the center of campus have been discussed for many years and no changes have been made. Parking is still taking place on Old Chapel Road, and there are increasing incidences of drivers "creating" spaces where none exist in order to find a spot. Ticketing
Parking tickets run high at Middlebury, close to 3 per member of the population each year. About 10% are appealed. There appear to be no definite trends in the number of tickets issued each year. However, with the exception of the abnormally high 93-94 year, vehicle towing is on the rise. Tedi Jennings attributes much of this to changing use of buildings on campus and increased pressure on certain high demand faculty/staff parking areas such as the lots near Pearsons, Wilson Lot by Proctor, and C-lot by Freeman. These areas are often targets for illegal student parking as well as overstuffing by faculty/staff vehicles. Bicycle Use
The Environmental Council is working on a study to identify the locations and types of bicycle racks on campus. They will be compiling this report using GIS and making recommendations about ways that bicycle use can be encouraged through improved storage opportunities, safer racks and improved pathways. Other Alternative Transportation
There are no college supported mass transit or ridesharing projects for commuters to campus. There are currently no mass transit methods of getting to Bread Loaf or the Snow Bowl. The "Safe Ride Bus" which runs a loop to the social houses on Friday and Saturday nights is used and effective. Wallace, Floyd, Associates Inc. Master Plan, 1996
In Chapter 3 on "Circulation Plan Objectives" the Master Plan developed for the College includes a great deal of research on traffic and pedestrian flow patterns. It includes the following objectives:
"-- to encourage development of a pedestrian campus"
"-- to minimize driving on campus"
"-- to locate parking at periphery of campus"
Chapter 3 also includes creation of neckdowns at crosswalks on College St. for traffic calming. (done)
Chapter 3 also includes suggestions to reduce or eliminate parking on Old Chapel Rd. Spring 1998 Registration

registered student vehicles	1164	55% of students
registered employee vehicles	588	54% of employees
(best guess employee vehicles)	appx. 850-900
TOTAL registered vehicles	appx. 2000
TOTAL parking spaces (spring 1997)	appx. 1966
student	838
fac/staff	854
handicapped	30
15 min	5
other	231
visitor	8
new parking spaces
Ridgeline	appx 100
Bicentennial hall	appx 100
presence of mass transit to campus?	no
college supported ridesharing/carpooling?	no
college run mass transit to frequent student destinations?	yes - "Safe Ride Bus"

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Develop methods of alternative transportation. Currently the College offers no opportunities for faculty/staff ride-sharing, no busses or vans to common student destinations, and with the exception of the "Safe Ride Bus," no cross-campus shuttle. Initiating some of these programs would be a real leadership step and demonstrate the need for responsibly addressing transportation issues. The College should also do more to support bicycle use on campus through improved routes, better storage and more convenient racks. 2. Move all parking to the periphery of campus. It is obvious that the conflicts in parking occur in certain high traffic areas. Drivers tend to violate parking regulations to be able to park in these prime spots. The College can either address this issue by paving over a large area of the center of campus for parking, adversely affecting the visual environment, or it can consciously direct all parking towards the periphery of campus, making parking equally "inconvenient" for all, but ensuring enough spaces for parking to always be available. Peripheral parking combined with an efficient shuttle system would enhance both the physical and social environments at Middlebury.