I'm working on a project that is located approx. 0,75 mile from a bus interface, 1,6 mile from a train station and 2,6 mile from city centre. The project is an industrial unit inside a private campus and our client is implementing a shuttle bus that will operate at shift hours and will connect the building with the bus interface, train station and city centre and will be available to all employees free of charge. I've had another project in the past that achieved this credit with a similar solution but it was certified by LEED NC v2.2 scheme and since then the ACP guidance was released.
Will this strategy be acceptable to fulfill credit requirements? And if yes, how should I document it?
Matthew VanSweden
Director of Intersectional Professional Services55 thumbs up
March 25, 2013 - 3:02 pm
My understanding is that nay shuttle needs to act in a similar way to that of public transit. An expert from LEED Interpretation # 10003, "a private mini-bus may be counted towards credit compliance if it is available to the public, travels a regular route and observes a regular time schedule. If the mini-bus behaves more like a group taxi, in that the route and timetable is determined by the occupants, then it is not eligible to be counted towards credit compliance."
For your project, I would say that as long as the shuttle is open to the staff and visitors [you will have to argue why this is not open to the public, as it is a private campus -- I wouldn't think you'd have a tough time], has a regular time schedule, and a published route, it would fulfill the credit requirements. I would think you'd only have to document its schedule, route, and accessibility to campus users. You will also have to document what it is connecting to [bus stops, train station, city centre, etc.]
Ricardo Sá
Director of SustainabilityEdifícios Saudáveis Consultores (503 910 767)
85 thumbs up
March 26, 2013 - 12:35 pm
Dear Matthew,
thank you for your kind response. I've already prepared a narrative describing how the shuttle will operate (time schedules, capacity, bus stop locations, etc.) and why the campus is private (it is an industrial campus after all). My only doubt is regarding the "2 or more (...) lines" because the shuttle is only one line even though it connects with bus interface with several bus lines and train station. Do you think it will be counted as one line only or it will guarantee full credit compliance?
Deborah Lucking
Director of SustainabilityFentress Architects
LEEDuser Expert
258 thumbs up
March 26, 2013 - 1:04 pm
Check out this CIR response (#000400005578) :
If the project can provide permanent shuttle service that connects building occupants directly to one rail station or to one or more bus stops serving two or more bus lines within a reasonable distance (4 miles) of the project, then it may be eligible for this credit. If a shuttle is used, provide information on the distance to bus routes and to building(s), schedule and frequency of operation, and shuttle capacity. Schedule and frequency must be adequate to service employee ridership during standard commuting times for all shifts.
Adrienn Gelesz
LEED APABUD Engineering Ltd.
48 thumbs up
April 16, 2013 - 1:00 pm
Pedro, please see ID#100001163 MADE ON 04/01/2012:
"Shuttle buses should provide direct access to transit facilities within 2 miles of the project site, approximately a 5-10 minute drive, and must be available to all project occupants."
Also, several CIR's and LI-s are dealing with this issue (what frequency is ok, etc.) check: http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations
Deborah, that CIR you mention might have lost its validity now. There was also an interpretation ID#5179 MADE ON 01/23/2009 where a bus line 4 miles away was not accepted altough connected by a shuttle.
Summer Minchew
Managing PartnerEcoimpact Consulting
LEEDuser Expert
170 thumbs up
December 17, 2015 - 3:41 pm
CIR response #000400005578 references "Shuttle schedule and frequency must be adequate to service employee ridership during standard commuting times for all shifts." Does anyone have experience providing shuttle service for events that occur regularly as part of the building program? Should the team assume that event visitors must also have access to shuttle service of appropriate size and schedule to accommodate maximum building capacity?