Environmental Geology Environmental Geology NWACC Alternative NWACC Alternative

Transportation OptionsTransportation OptionsSpring 2007Spring 2007

Jeff BowermanChris Cuchia

Melody BeauchampDavid Greer

Michaele Ann Buell Xue Lee

Project ProposalProject Proposal

Promoting Alternative Methods of Promoting Alternative Methods of Transportation to NWACC studentsTransportation to NWACC students

Project OverviewProject Overview Statistics of NWACC parking permits--4,612

Introduce available alternative methods of transportation--Bus, carpooling, walking, or riding a bicycle.

Benefits of using these methods--Reduction of Greenhouse admissions and saving money on gasoline and vehicle maintenance.

Mileage from local cities Mileage from local cities to NWACC (round trip)to NWACC (round trip)

Rogers--10 milesPea Ridge--20 milesSpringdale--30 milesGravette--40 milesFayetteville--52 miles Siloam Springs--72 milesHuntsville--92 miles

22 MPG Average vehicle per 22 MPG Average vehicle per miles per gallon, price per miles per gallon, price per year (two semesters).year (two semesters).

Rogers--$202.91 per yearPea Ridge--$405.82 per yearSpringdale--$608.73 per yearGravette--$811.64 per yearFayetteville--$1,055.13 per yearSiloam Springs--$1,460.95 per yearHuntsville--$1,866.77 per year

The Rising Environmental The Rising Environmental Cost of Driving AloneCost of Driving Alone

Transportation accounts for more than 30 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), public transportation in the United States saves approximately 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline and about 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Energy IndependenceEnergy Independence& Safety& Safety

Energy Independence--According to Treehugger.com, if just one in 10 Americans used public transportation daily, U.S. reliance on foreign oil would decrease 40 percent.

Safety--Riding a bus is 79 times safer than riding in an automobile, and riding a train or subway is even safer.

HealthHealth& Cost Savings& Cost Savings

Health--Studies have shown that people Health--Studies have shown that people who use public transportation regularly who use public transportation regularly tend to be healthier than people who don’t, tend to be healthier than people who don’t, because of the exercise they get walking to because of the exercise they get walking to and from bus stops, subway stations and and from bus stops, subway stations and their homes and offices. their homes and offices.

Cost savings--According to an APTA study, Cost savings--According to an APTA study, families that use public transportation can families that use public transportation can reduce their household expenses by $6,200 reduce their household expenses by $6,200 annually, more than the average U.S. annually, more than the average U.S. household spends on food every year.household spends on food every year.

Ozark Regional Transit Ozark Regional Transit budget compared to budget compared to neighboring citiesneighboring cities

Springfield, MO--$6.6 million; Pop 215,000.Springfield, MO--$6.6 million; Pop 215,000. Wichita, KS--$10.2 million; Pop 327,000.Wichita, KS--$10.2 million; Pop 327,000. Little Rock, AR--$11.2 million; Pop 360,000.Little Rock, AR--$11.2 million; Pop 360,000. Tulsa, OK--$14.5 million; Pop 558,000.Tulsa, OK--$14.5 million; Pop 558,000.

Northwest Arkansas--$2.4 million; Pop Northwest Arkansas--$2.4 million; Pop 200,000.200,000.

Ozark Regional Transit Ozark Regional Transit Current RoutesCurrent Routes

http://faculty.nwacc.edu/EAST_original/bus_routes.htm

Bikes and BussesBikes and Busses Colorado Springs--combination of alternative transit modes, offer bicycle racks attached to front ofbus.

Bike LockerBike Locker Colorado Springs--Locker for bike and

gear 3 months lease $15.00 non-

refundable key.

CarpoolingCarpooling Carpooling is the simplest and most common

ridesharing arrangement. Carpooling reduces the total number of commute trips made because each passenger, in addition to the driver, represents one less vehicle trip. By sharing the ride, carpoolers save money on fuel, insurance, and car maintenance. Carpooling can also reduce time spent on the road, because carpools can use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. When they're not behind the wheel, carpoolers can read, nap, or chat during their commute, reducing stress. And carpooling helps reduce air pollution, traffic congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Carpooling Cont…Carpooling Cont… Many people are turning to carpooling Many people are turning to carpooling

because of the increase in gas price. The because of the increase in gas price. The average money saved per week is about average money saved per week is about between $10 to $60 depending on type of between $10 to $60 depending on type of other transportation and where you are other transportation and where you are located.located.

Carpooling AdvantagesCarpooling Advantages Less stress commuting to and from workLess stress commuting to and from work Financial savings due to sharing Financial savings due to sharing

commuting costscommuting costs Increases free time for ridersIncreases free time for riders If an HOV lane is available, trips may take If an HOV lane is available, trips may take

less timeless time Reduces air pollution due to emissionsReduces air pollution due to emissions Reduces the need for parkingReduces the need for parking

Walmart Sustainability Expo Walmart Sustainability Expo April 20, 2007April 20, 2007

NWACC Environmental NWACC Environmental Geology – Alternative Geology – Alternative Transportation Group Transportation Group

took part in the Walmart took part in the Walmart Sustainability Expo on Sustainability Expo on April 20, 2007. The April 20, 2007. The expo was held at the expo was held at the

David Glass Technology David Glass Technology building. The building. The

Transportation group Transportation group had a display booth to had a display booth to

promote alternative promote alternative transportation methods transportation methods

to the public. There were to the public. There were over 200 people who over 200 people who attended this event.attended this event.

Biking and walking to work are healthy Biking and walking to work are healthy ways to make your daily commute. ways to make your daily commute.

These cost even less than driving or These cost even less than driving or taking transit and get you in shape! They taking transit and get you in shape! They

also reduce pollution and congestion, also reduce pollution and congestion, enhancing our quality of life. enhancing our quality of life.

Some employers offer incentives to Some employers offer incentives to employees who bike or walk to work - employees who bike or walk to work -

like bike repairs or free walking shoes. like bike repairs or free walking shoes.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), “Approximately 300,000 U.S. deaths a year are associated with obesity and overweight.” Most Americans make the connection between exercise and health, but many people still lead sedentary lives.

“The total direct and indirect costs attributed to overweight and obesity amounted to $117 billion in the year 2000.”

The Surgeon General recommends moderate physical activity –30 minutes a day, five days a week- to combat the threat of diseases including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, certain forms of cancer and depression.

Join in the nationwide call-to-action to Join in the nationwide call-to-action to Walking at WorkWalking at Work on onWednesday, April 25 and rally local businesses and their employees toWednesday, April 25 and rally local businesses and their employees toinitiate Start!  Employers are asked to encourage their employees toinitiate Start!  Employers are asked to encourage their employees tobring their sneakers to work and take a walk for 30 minutes. bring their sneakers to work and take a walk for 30 minutes.

Why walk? Walking isWhy walk? Walking is the key to prevention.the key to prevention.

With the lowest drop out rate of any physical activity, walking is the With the lowest drop out rate of any physical activity, walking is the simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health.heart health.

Research shows that for every hour of physical activity, there is a gain Research shows that for every hour of physical activity, there is a gain of 2 hours of life expectancy. The benefits are clear: 2 for 1.of 2 hours of life expectancy. The benefits are clear: 2 for 1.

The average annual healthcare cost per person exceeds $3,000 and The average annual healthcare cost per person exceeds $3,000 and 60% of CEOs cite healthcare as their top cost pressure.60% of CEOs cite healthcare as their top cost pressure.

The True Cost of DrivingThe True Cost of DrivingNational Average Total Ownership and National Average Total Ownership and Operating Costs per MileOperating Costs per Mile

   Miles per YearMiles per Year

   10,00010,000 15,00015,000 20,00020,000

Small sedanSmall sedan 50.5¢50.5¢ 41.7¢41.7¢ 37.6¢37.6¢

Medium sedanMedium sedan 62.4¢62.4¢ 53.1¢53.1¢ 48.4¢48.4¢

Large sedan Large sedan 72.9¢72.9¢ 61.9¢61.9¢ 56.5¢56.5¢

Composite Composite National National AverageAverage 62.0¢62.0¢ 52.2¢52.2¢ 47.7¢47.7¢

Average Operating Costs Only per MileAverage Operating Costs Only per Mile

   Vehicle TypeVehicle Type

  Small Small sedan sedan

Medium Medium sedan sedan Large sedan Large sedan AverageAverage

Gas and OilGas and Oil 8.0¢8.0¢ 9.8¢9.8¢ 10.7¢10.7¢ 9.5¢9.5¢

MaintenanceMaintenance 4.5¢4.5¢ 4.9¢4.9¢ 5.4¢5.4¢ 4.9¢4.9¢

TiresTires 0.5¢0.5¢ 0.8¢0.8¢ 0.7¢0.7¢ 0.7¢0.7¢

Cost per MileCost per Mile 13.0¢13.0¢ 15.5¢15.5¢ 16.8¢16.8¢ 15.1¢15.1¢

..

Environmental Geology Environmental Geology class for NWACC East class for NWACC East project is promoting project is promoting more use of the Ozark more use of the Ozark Regional Transit.Regional Transit.

Walmart currently has Walmart currently has a carpool program that a carpool program that can match associates can match associates with compatible with compatible carpooling groups.carpooling groups.

Commuting CalculatorsCommuting Calculators

http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/

http://www.rideshare.org/dcc/dccpage.htm

Suggestions from Suggestions from Walmart Sustainability Walmart Sustainability Expo Expo

Bus routes specifically for Walmart Bus routes specifically for Walmart associates and corporate locations.associates and corporate locations.

Additional parking areas for modes of Additional parking areas for modes of transportation other than cars. transportation other than cars.

Improve bus transit, needed for Improve bus transit, needed for development of light rail system.development of light rail system.

Purpose a NWACC survey of those Purpose a NWACC survey of those interested in car-pooling.interested in car-pooling.

TechnologyTechnology Internet for research Powerpoint presentation Cell phone/telephone conferences TV media

Community ContactsCommunity Contacts Jim Hall NWACC Information Center Walmart Sustainability Expo Ozark Regional Transit

Skills to DevelopSkills to Develop Team building Team building Problem solving Problem solving Communication – Public speaking Communication – Public speaking

Expected OutcomeExpected Outcome

MET--Increasing awareness of the benefits for NWACC students for using alternative transportation

options.

ReferencesReferences

NWACC Travel Mileage ChartNorthwest Arkansas Times, “Curing NWA’s

transportation needs requires vision”, Phil Pumphrey, Sunday April 15, 2007, A4

http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=1212http://www.ozark.org/RidingORT/home.htm