Transportation/Commuter Emissions Summary: CWU has an important role to play in reducing emissions from staff, students, and faculty commuting in single-occupancy gas- or diesel-powered vehicles to and from the University. Reducing commuter emissions and changing commuter behaviors are some of the biggest challenges associated with addressing climate change, especially considering the rural environment of Kittitas County, where employees and students must rely on single-occupancy vehicles to commute to the Ellensburg campus. The University’s strategies to reduce commuter emissions will require utilizing a new data management system to measure vehicle miles traveled by employees and students, and exploring solutions that will offer practical, convenient, low-cost, and accessible alternative modes of transportation. Walking, bicycling, micromobility (e.g., electric-powered scooters or e-bicycles), and public transit are examples of alternative transportation. This section outlines the initial planning and implementation efforts that build and/or enhance alternative modes of transportation for the campus community. Addressing commuter emission reductions will require a multi-phased, coordinated effort in partnership with the campus and local
community, including the City of Ellensburg. Fortunately, there are already local and regional resources available for campus and local community members. Local and regional alternative transportation resources include the fare-free Central Transit bus system, Flixbus, Yakima-Ellensburg Commuter, Bellair Airporter, and bike-friendly infrastructure. CWU is committed to collaborating with local partners and the campus community to further build out and encourage alternative forms of transportation for students and employees.
Objective: Vehicle miles traveled to, from, and around campus by CWU employees and students is reduced by 20% by 2030, in comparison to 2024 levels.
Projected GHG Emission Reductions: Medium Impact Strategy: Build and/or enhance alternative transportation infrastructure that supports significant reductions in miles driven in single-occupancy vehicles by CWU students and employees. Action Steps: • Utilize a Scope 3 emission tracking platform (e.g., SIMAP) to begin measuring and tracking vehicle miles driven by CWU employees and students. - Review past CWU commuter behavior surveys and issue new campus-wide surveys to begin measuring total vehicle miles driven by students and employees. • Develop a commuter emission reduction team, comprised of campus and local community members to explore alternative transportation options. - Coordinate and facilitate CWU Sustainability Forums and engage with the broader campus community to identify and evaluate commuter behavior patterns as well as barriers, opportunities, and solutions related to alternative transportation. Explore incentives to increase alternative transportation use across campus. - Collaborate with the City of Ellensburg on increasing Central Transit ridership and accessibility. - Collaborate with CWU Centers to explore and enhance alternative transportation opportunities for students. - Prioritize planning efforts that will reduce vehicle miles driven by employees and students living within a two-mile radius of the Ellensburg campus. - Explore practical opportunities to invest in alternative transportation options (e.g., bike- sharing, bike rentals, micromobility) that will encourage students and employees to not drive from one area of campus to another area of campus on a daily basis. • Support Student Sustainability Ambassadors and peer-to-peer educators in promoting and encouraging commuter emission reduction behaviors across the campus community.
Department Lead(s): CWU Sustainability with the support of Campus Housing, Residential Hall Association, and Facilities Management. Initial and Ongoing Costs: To be determined depending on which decisions and investments are made to build out and enhance alternative transportation options for campus community members. Annual SIMAP subscription ranges from $500 - $750 to track vehicle miles driven and other Scope 3 emissions. Funding Opportunities: Washington State Department of Transportation, non-federal grants. Phasing Plan: Within 12 months of the adoption of this plan, efforts will be made to begin tracking vehicle miles driven by campus community members and forming a commuter emission reduction team. Between 2025 and 2030, there will be a multi-phased and multi-pronged approach to building out and/or enhancing alternative transportation infrastructure. Equity Considerations: Assess and overcome barriers to entry for alternative transportation; implement an equitable planning and implementation process to ensure alternative transportation options are affordable, accessible, reliable, safe, and fairly distributed throughout the campus community. Co-Benefits: Reduced air pollution, improved public health and well-being, traffic and congestion reductions, and fuel cost savings for commuters.
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