Future bus line

Alicja, I don't think so. For this credit I think the lines should be in place.

LEED v4 allows future bus stops to qualify for credit compliance as long as they meet specified criteria.

I am currently working with GBCI to get future bus stops to contribute to credit compliance on a v3 project. I'll post the outcome to this forum.

David, have you had any official update? Makes no sense why they would allow future stops for one kind of transit, but not others.

Hello Emily, 

Yes, we were allowed to achieve the v3 credit with future bus stops that meet the credit requirements. Here is the verbatim comment i received from GBCI on this one:

"In this case, an exemption can be granted since the two routes are existing and the plan is for the stops to be relocated within 400 meters of the building's main entrance. Note that the documentation submitted for review must include clear directives from the transportation department that the stops will be completed within 24 months from the date of occupancy."

It may be noted that the LEED project building is 300,000+ square feet and a global company with annual sales well over 30 billion dollars. They seem to have a little more pull with local authorities and GBCI reviewers than a 'ma and pa' store.

Good Luck!!

Interesting. My project is a giant casino that's required to provide a ton of additional transportation options as part of the project, as in, they must provide it as part of the agreement for the permit, or the casino isn't allowed to operate. So, it's not existing, since it's currently under construction, but it doesn't exactly count as planned and funded, as it's provided by the casino in the form of a variety of new shuttles for patrons and employees, in various forms, some on land, and some on water. The form is rigid, and won't count the new components towards exemplary performance unless its existing, but the combination of the existing regular public buses and the new services more than easily exceed the 200 ride threshold.

I feel that we're more than meeting the intent, but you just never know how rigid the reviewers will be with technicalities. I've had plenty of projects go both ways in situations like this that don't exactly match every criterion to a T. 

i just e-mailed you my full correspondence with GBCI on this matter. My advice would be to attach that e-mail to your upload on this credit. 

It bugs me that the same approach can go both ways. Leaves us kinda in a bad position when our customers spend time and money while we cannot guarantee credit achievement.....and a 6 point credit in this instance. 

Emily, is this a credit that you could submit during construction review instead when you may have more documentation available to you?

I could if really needed, but we're teetering on a threshold and it's preferred to get as many points nailed down now as possible. I emailed GBCI and got some more specific input today:

"There are multiple LEED Interpretations (476, 615, and 100001163) that allow the use of a private shuttle service as an alternative to a bus line. Since these shuttles are typically added specifically for the project, it is not expected for them to be completed and in operation until the project is complete; however, the transit system that the shuttle connects to must be either operational by the time of submittal (if it is a bus system) or at least planned and funded (if it is a rail system). If including private shuttle services in the LEED Form, ensure that the requirements of the LEED Interpretations are met (e.g., transit facilities within 2 miles of the project site, standard frequency and schedule of service, as well as periodic service at other times, etc.). Note that LI 100001163 indicates that the shuttle service must be available to all occupants, but separate shuttle services for visitors and employees can be accepted as an alternative based on the project type. Although the form may not count the private shuttles towards exemplary performance, they will be considered when reviewed. Ensure that a narrative describing the shuttles, as well as all of our correspondences, have been included in the submittal."

In short, I think we'll be ok, just gotta dig through some additional references and be super specific.

Hi Emily,

Is there any restriction for the frequency of private shuttles?

Hi Merve,

Sorry for the delayed response. I have not seen any specific limits for frequency, but it probably depends on the project size and what's reasonable for the context provided it's justified and not just excessively providing services for the sake of the credit, if that makes sense.