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Release date: May 23, 2006 Emory Recognized as Among the 'Best Workplaces for Commuters'Emory University has earned honors as one of the "Best Workplaces for Commuters" from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week in the EPA's first annual list of notable schools. Emory is among 72 institutions of higher education that earned this designation as environmental leaders that improve air quality, save energy and reduce traffic congestion in their communities. The U.S. Department of Transportation cosponsors the recognition program with the EPA, and Emory first made the EPA's general list of workplaces in 2001. Whether by foot, bike or bus, Emory has spent the past decade encouraging employees to ditch their cars or hitch a ride with colleagues. All of Emory's commuter options also are available to Clifton Corridor Transportation Management Association members including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Veterans Administration Medical Center, American Cancer Society and other institutions adjacent to the university. This fall Emory will nearly double its shuttle routes and expand its park and ride program. Emory's shuttle system is free and available for all, including routes to and from Decatur. More than half of Emory's buses are alternatively fueled (CNG and electric) and the university is developing a recycled biodiesel program (creating fuel from its own used cooking oil) that should help fuel the rest of the fleet by fall. "Emory strives to offer programs that meet our employees' needs and relieve traffic congestion in our surrounding community and the Clifton Corridor. We are honored to receive this recognition as Emory works toward more comprehensive sustainability in all of our operations," says Laura Ray, associate vice president for transportation and parking services at Emory. Emory's efforts to help ease traffic congestion and improve air quality have been recognized each year since 2000 by Atlanta's Clean Air Campaign, and the university has been cited by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a "green campus." Commuter options at Emory provide employees with a wide range of options and resources. The university has 24 vanpools operating from eight different counties. Both employee and student carpoolers receive parking discounts, and employee carpools with greater than three riders qualify for a free parking hangtag and a reserved parking space. Employees in the bike/walk program receive 20 one-day passes on MARTA, the city's transit system, every other month for a total of 100 passes per year; employees registered in the transit program receive free monthly MARTA passes. Emory's commuter rewards incentives offered through the Clean Air Campaign include cash for commuters, carpool rewards and commuter prizes. For alternative commuters needing emergency transportation, the university offers a guaranteed ride home, funded by the Atlanta Regional Commission. ### Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For nearly two decades Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system. Subscribe to News@Emory RSS feeds for automatic updates of the latest news at Emory. |
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