Has anyone received a review comment saying that the shuttle buses must be available during periodic times throughout the day, in addition to most frequent commuting hours?
Our project has a shuttle bus taking occupants to mass transit stations approximately 6 hours of the day during peak commuting periods. We received a comment that we also need to show a shuttle showing periodic service. The above reference guide comment about requirements for shuttle buses and the LEED addendum published 4/1/12, there is no mention of requiring service during periodic hours.
I am wondering where this came from. Does anyone know? If it's in a LEED Interpretation, do you think it's possible to make an argument that this is not posted in the reference guide or LEED addenda therefore we should not be subject to the requirements?
Thank you.
Marilyn Specht
Senior Principal | Director of Sustainability IntegrationSmithGroup
LEEDuser Expert
51 thumbs up
May 13, 2016 - 1:02 pm
Hi Rita,
Per the reference guide shuttle buses must connect to public transit and operate during the most frequent commuting hours. I believe this is also restated in several interpretations.
Brightworks Sustainability
Brightworks Sustainability LLC47 thumbs up
May 13, 2016 - 1:19 pm
Marilyn,
Our shuttle is operating during the most frequent commuting hours and connects to public transit. My question is about offering periodic service. We got a review comment stating that in addition to operating during frequent commuting hours, it must also operate during periodic times throughout the day. Where is this stated?? I have not seen this requirement before.
Marilyn Specht
Senior Principal | Director of Sustainability IntegrationSmithGroup
LEEDuser Expert
51 thumbs up
May 13, 2016 - 1:56 pm
I am not aware of this requirement nor have I received any review comments stating the periodic service. Have you tried reaching out to GBCI directly for them to clarify?
Landry Watson
Assistant Vice President - SustainabilityAlexandria Real Estate Equities
29 thumbs up
May 19, 2016 - 4:37 pm
Language on this exists in LIR 615 & 618 - "According to SS Credit 4.1 CIR submitted 1/8/2003 (2/4/2003 ruling), LEED will accept the establishment of a permanent private shuttle service "to connect the buildings(s) and the bus routes to achieve 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, as well as periodic service at other times. Also reference the credit ruling dated 9/20/2002. Applicable Internationally."
That being said, it isn't clear to me why the shuttle would need to provide additional service defined by "periodic service at other times". If you are already servicing the occupants and potential visitors of your project - why is additional "periodic" service necessary...and how much is "periodic"?
@Rita - Will you post the verbatim reviewer comment so we can see the full context?
Brightworks Sustainability
Brightworks Sustainability LLC47 thumbs up
June 9, 2016 - 3:33 pm
@Landry here you go. I wish they referenced that LI in their response otherwise we would not know how to find that requirement. I wrote an argument back saying since this is not part of the reference guide or addenda, and is not clearly stated unless you go digging for it, it should not be a requirement; we'll see if that works :)
The LEED Form states that the project complies with Option 2: Bus Station Proximity via a permanent private shuttle bus that provides direct access to at least one commuter rail, light rail, subway station, bus rapid transit station, or commuter ferry terminal per the LEED BD+C v2009 Reference Guide and Correction published on 4/1/2012. However, to demonstrate compliance, the following must be addressed.
TECHNICAL ADVICE
1. Provide a narrative describing how the shuttle service is available to all LEED project occupants. Note that the guidance in LEED Interpretation 10005 has been superseded by Reference Guide Correction #100001163 and is no longer applicable to 2009 projects. Refer to the LEED BD+C v2009 Reference Guide and Addenda published on 4/1/2012 for a full list of requirements.
2. The provided transit schedule indicates that the shuttle only operates in the morning and the afternoon (we confirmed it operates during peak commuting hours, i.e. 6-10 am and 3-7 pm and showed how it connects to other transportation options). Provide revised documentation confirming that the service operates frequently enough to effectively connect to public transportation options. Demonstrate that the shuttle schedule and frequency are adequate to service employee ridership during standard commuting times for all shifts, as well as periodic service at other times.
Kathryn West
LEED AP BD+C, O+M, Green Globes ProfessionalJLL
154 thumbs up
June 9, 2016 - 5:28 pm
Thanks for posting this. It seems overly harsh to me.
Kathryn West
LEED AP BD+C, O+M, Green Globes ProfessionalJLL
154 thumbs up
June 9, 2016 - 4:55 pm
The guidance on shuttles needs to be clearer.
there are at least 5 LIs that reference shuttles.
Do projects need to comply with just 1 or all 5?
Kathryn West
LEED AP BD+C, O+M, Green Globes ProfessionalJLL
154 thumbs up
June 9, 2016 - 5:41 pm
I have some projects in design right now and we are probably going to look into submitting a credit interpretation to make sure our shuttle meets the credit requirements. Good luck in your final review. I hope you can get some clarification from GBCI about this!
Brightworks Sustainability
Brightworks Sustainability LLC47 thumbs up
June 28, 2016 - 12:44 pm
I haven't submitted this for final review yet but I think this periodic service requirement is for private shuttles. Our shuttle bus is public and we will clarify that for the final review. They are probably assuming our shuttle is private - hopefully that is the case!