SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION AT UNH 
Maximizing mobility and accessibility in a climate protection framework that emphasizes health and safety, efficiency, cost effectiveness, equity, accessibility, and sustainability
Get to and from UNH using public transportation!
NEW! 
UNH’s commitment to sustainable transportation is part of its Climate Education Initiative. Under a framework of Transportation Demand Management (TDM), which seeks to reduce our use of single occupancy vehicle private vehicles, UNH takes a holistic approach that includes expanded free transit services, increased on-campus housing, development of improved transit and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, support of the Amtrak Downeaster regional rail service, and ongoing educational and information programs aimed at providing expanded mobility without private vehicle use.
Designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation as a “Best Workplace for Commuters” in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, UNH actively works with the state department of transportation and regional MPO to coordinate transit and intermodal transportation activities, and is a critical player in the regional transit system.
Learn more about sustainability and transportation: read our "Profile in Sustainability of UNH Campus Planning's Stephen Pesci
Highlights
Planning and construction that promotes sustainable transportation
Four capital construction projects highlight UNH’s commitment to creating a sustainable learning community that is accessible to all and climate-friendly:
- Main Street-East (completed September 2007): $2.2 million reconstruction of core campus street from downtown to Field House providing dedicated bike lanes to enhance bicycle capacity and safety; improve travel way configuration; improve transit, including bus pullouts and lit shelters; expand sidewalks; and improve crosswalk lighting.
- Intermodal Rail Station Restoration and Expansion (scheduled completion July 2008): $1 million restoration of our on-campus historic train station and expansion of intermodal faculties to include full intercity bus capacity, indoor rail/bus transit passenger waiting areas, a renovated UNH Dairy Bar restaurant, and historic transportation displays highlighting the role of transportation in the founding of UNH-Durham. The Amtrak station in Durham (which is UNH-funded) served over 50,000 travelers in the ’06-‘07 academic year. Learn more...
- UNH CNG Fueling Infrastructure and Fleet (scheduled completion September 2008): Expansion of our existing compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facility and our procurement of CNG and low emission biodiesel transit and non-transit vehicle fleet.
- Main Street-West (construction summer 2009): $500,000 reconstruction of key arterial from Field House to West Edge providing dedicated bike lanes to enhance bicycle capacity and safety; improve travel way configuration; improve transit and provided a separated mixed use trail.
UNH Transportation Policy Committee (TPC)
The UNH Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) serves in an advisory capacity to the UNH President, making recommendations on the full range of issues that relate to transportation management at UNH, including parking policy and transit services. Chaired by the UNH Vice President of Finance & Administration and comprised of members from across the entire campus, the overarching goal of the TPC is to guide the university toward a systemic transportation system that is consistent with priorities set by the UNH Academic Plan and the UNH Campus Master Plan and that maximizes mobility and accessibility in a climate education framework that emphasizes health and safety, efficiency, cost effectiveness, equity, and sustainability.
Benchmarking and standards
UNH collects data on its transportation systems (transit, vehicle fuel consumption, mileage) and community transportation needs and behaviors as a way of benchmarking and tracking progress in its sustainable transportation system goals. This data collection is permitting UNH to measure effectiveness versus peer institutions.
Learn more...
- Get an overview of UNH's 2007 Transportation Survey (PDF)
- Read the full 2007 UNH Transportation Survey Report (PDF)
Expansion of transit offerings
UNH boasts the state’s largest public transit system, and highlights include the following:
- Campus Connector: UNH's free, on-campus shuttle system that is open to all in UNH Durham community and runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).
- Wildcat Transit: UNH's off-campus transit system that is free to UNH ID holders and $1 for general public access. Handicap accessible with bike racks for use on all buses, Wildcat Transit connects the UNH community with the Campus Connector shuttle system, with local, state, and region-wide commercial bus service, and with the Dover and Durham Amtrak Downeaster train stations. Wildcat Transit also offers a guaranteed ride home program for transit riders during the academic year. UNH continues to grow its transit offerings, especially into the densest travel routes and off-campus housing areas used by UNH faculty, staff, and students; the Wildcat Transit Fleet will be expanded by March 2009 to include new and replacement vehicles. The service is operated without federal operating assistance.
Cool UNH Transit Facts
- In 2008, UNH WildCat Transit won the Federal Transit Administration "Success in Enhancing Ridership Award" in the 50,000 to 200,000 population category. Wildcat Transit was recognized for its efforts in getting at least 5% more passengers per year over a two-year period; UNH has used better traveler information, nicer bus shelters (with solar power lighting), a website with regularly updated transit and parking information, and new biodiesel transit buses to increase ridership by 21 percent.
- Wildcat Transit ridership has increased at double digit rates for five years -- 150% over the 1999-2007 period -- and in Fiscal Year 2007 UNH provided over 1 million transit trips – a new record!
- Combined ridership on Wildcat Transit and the Campus Connector has averaged 9% yearly growth over the past 5 years. Ridership has doubled since 2000.
- In fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007 - July 1, 2008), Wildcat Transit and Campus Connector combined ridership will exceed 1.1 million trips, representing a reduction of over 4 million private vehicle miles traveled and removing over 21,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions!
Learn more...
- Look up UNH Wildcat Transit routes and services
- Look up schedule and ticket information for the Amtrak Downeaster
- Look up C&J Trailways service
Use of alternative fuels and clean technology in transit & non-transit vehicles
UNH is transitioning its entire fleet of diesel vehicles to the use of low sulfur B20 biodiesel. In fall 2006, the UNH transit system began use of B20 in eight new CARB certified low-floor diesel buses. UNH has six compressed natural gas (CNG) shuttle buses, four bi-fuel CNG/gas-powered pickup trucks, one all-electric non-transit utility van, and over $2 million worth of low emission diesel transit buses fueled with biodiesel (B20) as part of its growing "Clean Fleet" program of alternative fuels and clean technology transit vehicles. In August 2006, UNH President J. Bonnie Newman, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, and officials from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) officially opened a new DOT biodiesel fueling facility on the Durham campus.
UNH also has electric vehicles on campus, including:
- 1 full sped truck
- 4 or 5 NEV category sedans
Learn more...
- "Biodiesel @ UNH: Best Practices for Production, Use, Handling & Safety (2007)," UNH Office of Environmental Health & Safety (PDF)
- UNH Biodiesel Transition Memo (2007), UNH Campus Planning and UNH Transportation Services (PDF)
Ridesharing & carpooling
Wherever you’re going, don’t go solo–GoLoco! UNH joined forces with the ridesharing service in 2008 to improve the access and visibility of carpooling on campus. GoLoco works by integrating ride-sharing features with social networking software. Simply log-on to GoLoco.org or add the GoLoco application to your FaceBook profile and then post a trip as either a driver or passenger. You can even browse rides without creating a full GoLoco profile. Trips can be restricted so that they are only visible to your friends, to a group you belong to, or to anyone at UNH. UNH Commuter Student Services worked with University Transportation Services, Campus Planning, and the University Office of Sustainability to bring GoLoco to UNH. GoLoco will help reduce campus traffic, parking burdens, and emissions by improving the carpooling rate. Learn more about UNH joining forces with GoLoco...
Learn more...
Promotion of bicycling
Managed by UNH Transportation Services, the Cat Cycles program allows any member of the university community to sign out a bike at the UNH Visitor Service Center and have sole use of the bike for up to a week. All the bikes are durable, single-speed "cruisers" equipped with a lock, fenders, and a cargo basket.
Learn more...
Amtrak Downeaster rail service
Amtrak Downeaster service in Durham began 2001, offering a welcome relief to traffic congestion, high gasoline prices, parking woes, and air pollution caused by single occupany vehicles. The Amtrak Downeaster serves the communities of Old Orchard Beach, Saco/Biddeford, and Wells in Maine; Dover, Durham and Exeter in New Hampshire; and Haverhill and Woburn in Massachusetts. With five roundtrips a day originating in Portland, Maine and terminating at North Station in Boston, Mass, the service regularly rates well for on-time service and customer satisfaction. Amtrak Downeaster ridership has exploded and will exceed 55,000 trips to/from Durham in 2008. This is an average 20% per year annual growth over the past 5 years and represents a reduction of over 2.5 million private vehicle trips and the prevention of over 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions!
Learn more...
- Learn more about Amtrak Downeaster service
- Learn more about the current expansion and renovation of the Durham rail station
Hybrids in the on-campus Enterprise rental fleet
In 2006, the UNH Durham Campus and the Durham Enterprise Rent-A-Car office signed a voluntary agreement to offer gas-electric hybrids in the Durham rental fleet. These vehicles are available for a $5 daily or $20/weekly surcharge over similar gas vehicles. The UNH Durham Enterprise Office currently has three hybrids: a Saturn Vue, a Ford Escape, and a Toyota Prius. The entire UNH community is strongly encouraged to select these hybrid vehicles for their rental needs. Rent a hybrid vehicle from the UNH Durham Enterprise Rent-A-Car fleet!
Eco-Cat™
UNH is now unveiling a new Eco-Cat™ branding label on all UNH alternative fuel and clean technology vehicles that will educate riders and local residents about the environmental and economic benefits of UNH's growing suite of such transit and non-transit vehicles.
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UNH Transportation Partners
- UNH Energy & Campus Development
- UNH Energy Task Force
- UNH Transportation Services
- UNH Office of Environmental Heath & Safety
- UNH University Office of Sustainability
- UNH Institute on Disability. Read their report "NH Speaks Out: We Want Public Transportation" (PDF).
www.GoLoco.org is a social travel network website that helps eligible users make ridesharing arrangements (the "Site"). The Site is owned and operated by GoLoco, Inc. (GoLoco), a Delaware corporation. The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with GoLoco, Inc., as part of an effort to reduce CO2 emissions, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and more efficiently utilize parking spaces on the campus. Under this Memorandum of Understanding, UNH agrees to assist in marketing GoLoco’s website to students and staff of the University. The Agreement with GoLoco, however, in no way implies that UNH has investigated, nor can UNH investigate or guarantee, any www.GoLoco.org user's purported identity, picture, insurance, criminal record or traffic violations record, or the actual existence or identity of any listed vehicle, or its actual condition. UNH also can not control or censor the information provided by other users that is made available through GoLoco’s Site, and it is possible you may find other user's information to be offensive, harmful, inaccurate or deceptive. Please use caution and common sense when using the GoLoco Site. By using this Site, you agree to accept all such risks and UNH shall not responsible for the acts or omissions by you or other users on the Site. Your decision to rideshare is at your sole risk, and UNH assumes no liability or responsibility for any harm, injury, damage or loss you may suffer as a result of using the Site.
