Tate Knowles, Anna Foley

Title:

NAU TDM: Driving Alternatives

Abstract:

Providing sustainable transportation options is an important outcome in transportation planning, especially in a university setting. As transportation demands increase, commuting students, faculty, and staff at Northern Arizona University (NAU) frequently face challenges related to congestion, parking constraints, and inefficient transit options. To address these issues, this report focuses on implementing alternative modes of transportation– specifically by providing freshmen students with EcoPasses and improving multimodal transit on NAU’s campus. EcoPasses are used to reduce the dependency on automobiles and parking permits by providing transit access. Improving multimodal transit will make biking on campus safer and more accessible through infrastructure and bike-share opportunities. Driving alternatives are effective in “university towns,” where the university has a strong influence on the surrounding town’s social, economic, and cultural dynamics. This report analyzes comparable universities, such as Utah Tech University (UTU) in St. George, Utah, and New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to identify successful transportation strategies that can be adapted for NAU. These peer universities have implemented strategies including transit pass programs and improved cycling infrastructure, which have led to improved campus mobility and less car dependency. Data that is used in this report includes existing bicycle infrastructure, local road traffic volumes, transit ridership patterns, and input from NAU students and faculty. This data provides insight into implementing driving alternatives with the goal of reducing congestion and improving campus mobility.