As part of Caltech's ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its operations, the Office of Sustainability, in conjunction with Parking and Commuter Services, is announcing a series of changes to its commuter and parking programs that will roll out beginning January 1, 2020.
"Mobility, or how people get to and from campus, represents an area of rapid change that Caltech must be prepared to navigate," says John Onderdonk, chief sustainability officer. "These changes will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions and congestion, which will positively impact the quality of life for members of the Caltech community and beyond."
Effective January 1, the financial incentives offered to vanpool and public-transit riders will increase. Currently, each vanpool rider receives a $50 monthly subsidy toward their vanpool payment; that subsidy will be increasing to $100 per rider per month. Public transit subsidies are not only being increased, but are being simplified. Metro transit passes will be available for free at the Caltech Parking and Commuter Services office or at the bookstore, and a $100 subsidy will be provided on monthly Metrolink passes. (Metrolink passes are only available at Metrolink stations.) All other incentives will remain the same.
The second phase of changes will also begin on January 1, 2020, with the first of what will be three annual increases in monthly parking fees. As of January 1, the fee for non-reserved parking will increase to $60 per month, while the reserved fee will increase to $120 per month. The non-reserved fee will increase by $10 in each of the two following years (to $70 per month on January 1, 2021, and $80 per month on January 1, 2022), while the reserved rate will increase by $20 per year (to $140 per month on January 1, 2021, and $160 per month on January 1, 2022). Carpool rates will remain the same in 2020, but will increase to $35 per month on January 1, 2021, and to $40 per month on January 1, 2022. These rates are increasing in order to offset the costs of improved commuter services and increased commuter subsidies.
In addition to the new fee structure, Parking and Commuter Services has established a separate parking permit for undergraduate students. Beginning January 1, 2020, their permitted parking options will be limited to the California and North Wilson garages during weekday peak hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
To date, the Institute's campus-based sustainability accomplishments have included decreasing annual CO2 emissions by 23 percent over the past decade; reducing annual water consumption by 43 percent since 2006; and generating 100 percent of its electricity onsite through rooftop solar panels, fuel cells, and a combined heat and power system. Focusing on the Institute's commuter and parking programs is a part of those ongoing efforts.
"Through an integrated planning process, Caltech has identified significant opportunities to improve operational performance in the areas of energy, water, waste, and mobility," says Onderdonk. "We will be implementing initiatives not only around mobility, but in each of those areas. As stewards of the Institute's resources, we believe everyone has an obligation to do their part."
For details on the various incentives and more information about the upcoming changes and how to enroll in the Institute's carpool, vanpool, or public-transit programs, please visit https://parking.sites.caltech.edu/.
