I am currently working on a LEED CI project where we want to pursue SS Credit 3.1. Our building owner is looking to pay for public transportation to and from the local light rail. The building is located in a very suburban area and no one will use the transportation so what i wanted to find out is if a dial a ride shuttle service acceptable to the GBCI, does this meet the requirements or does a bus line have to service a certain number of times per day or week? Please let me know if anyone has experience with this, thanks.
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Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 3:53 pm
Not sure if this bears directly on the question, but I'm wondering how far away the rail station is, in miles? Also, how quickly does the dial-a-ride arrive and how many people can they handle? If a bunch of people from the building get off work at the same time and want to get to the station, can the shuttle handle it?
Eric Bosley
23 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:04 pm
This particular service would be available within 15-20 minutes, and a shuttle would be able to accommodate 10-15 people based on the demand, as multiple buses are available to provide the service as necessary. The service would be similar to any other public transportation shuttle service and would more than serve the needs of the building. The only difference is it would be on call because we don't anticipate much public transportation being used at this location. The service would be able to handle all public transportation demand for the building. I just wanted to clarify that the USBGC would find it acceptable for this public transportation to be on-call rather than running a constant route. If you think about it the we are probably reducing carbon emissions by having the shuttle on-call. Please let me know if you have any experience with this or if you think I can assume that the USGBC would find this acceptable, thanks for your help.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:06 pm
How far away is the rail station? (Again, I'm not sure I can give you a firm yes/no on this approach, but trying to get a sense of things.)Could it be scheduled for regular users so that a call at 4:40 isn't necessary every day?
Eric Bosley
23 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:13 pm
The rail station is approximately 1 mile away from the building, the service could run a normal route, so if there were 5 or 10 people or even 1 who wanted it to pick them up from the light rail at 8 am and take them to work and then pick them up from work 4:40 then it could be scheduled as such. It would be catered based on demand if there is no demand then it would not be operating. It is basically being funded by the building owner to meet the LEED requirement. But he isn't going to pay to have it drive its route if no one is using it. I hope that makes sense.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:20 pm
Thanks for the background.So for starters, it's pretty clear that the project does not meet the credit requirements.Given that the owner is willing to commit to something that is somewhat equivalent to the credit requirements, you could make an argument for earning the credit. I think, however, that it's anyone's guess whether it wouuld be approved. It's not the kind of thing that has been reviewed consistently, from what I gather.Not sure if this was any help, but great question.
Eric Bosley
23 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:27 pm
If the owner were to hire a bus service for the tenants use how would it need to operate in order to meet the LEED requirements?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:36 pm
A bus service falls under Option 2, and the requirement is for two bus stops within 1/4 mile walking distance. My understanding is that a single physical bus stop can be counted twice if it has two bus lines. Two bus lines represents a substantial area of the region that can be reached.I suppose that if you can argue that this private service (which would have to be open to all building users, like a public service would be) is functionally equivalent, then it should qualify.I would probably recommend a CIR if you are counting on earning this credit and want to be more sure of it.I might actually argue for it under Option 1, saying that 1 mile of riding on a shuttle is better or at least equivalent to 1/2 walking. Again, a CIR is probably a good idea.
Eric Bosley
23 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:44 pm
Thank you for your input Tristan, that helps. This shuttle service would be the second bus line, one is already in place.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 5:52 pm
Oh, you didn't mention that. That's huge—should improve your odds.
Jason Zullo
ArchEcologyApril 25, 2013 - 4:15 pm
Eric - We have the exact same situation at our project. I would greatly appreciate it if you could update LEED user with the outcome of your approach towards achieving this credit.