NC v2.2 SSc4.1: Alternative Transportation—Public Transportation Access

The 2.2 credit language has confused people - whether a .25 mile radius is acceptable or whether it must be documented with a .25 mile walking distance on a map. (The 2009 language is much more clear that it must be shown by walking distance.) The sample area drawing in the 2.2 Reference Guide does show a linear walking distance, and we have seen reviewers of 2.1 and 2.2 projects ask to see the walking distance on the site plan and not just a radius diagram. We've also seen project approved with the .25 mile radius shown, but my guess is these have been accepted when the stops were well with the .25 mile radius.
If you are right on the edge of that .25 mile radius, you may be asked to show the walking distance, so be prepared to also document the frequency of bus service. In a few cases where there were not 2 stops exactly with .25 mile distance, projects have been successful with an alternative compliance path that shows more detail about the level of transit service provided. (See interpretation #704 for one example.) You'd want to show with number of bus lines, number of stops per day, frequency, access to other modes, etc. that you are providing an equivalent or better access to transit than 2 lines within .25 miles with at least 50 rides each per day.

It's possible that might be accepted as an alternative compliance path, but I wouldn't have high expectations for it to pass. You may want to present this as part of an over-all transit management plan that uses several methods to reduce single occupant car use.

First, you'll want to create a baseline of how many employees and visitors would be traveling to and from your project by single occupant vehicles if no transit services existed. You'll need to make reasonable assumptions about the geographic and demographic area your project serves, and the distance and locations people will be traveling from.

Then, describe the transit services you are providing - the call and ride bus would be one, but are there others such as an organized car pooling network, a public car-share program like Zipcar, incentives for shared car use or biking, or a second scheduled shuttle at peak commuting times?

Lastly, you'd want to predict what the percent reduction of single occupant vehicle use will be with the transit management plan. This can be hard to predict, and convince the reviewer that the predictions are credible, so it helps if there is data from any similar programs in other companies or cities that have already demonstrated some measurable reductions of car use.

If you want to get an early review of your proposed plan you could always submit a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide, or you could wait till the Design Phase review to see if technical advice is offered or if it is accepted.
Hope that helps!

We've seen large closets or storage units in apartments used for bike parking instead of racks, so other arrangements are possible than a typical rack. Still, you'll need to show on the drawings a designated covered place where bikes can be stored for residents to use. You'll also want to explain in the narrative that the whole site is secured.

Daniel, it sounds like you clearly meet Option 2 for this credit. Do you have any uncertainty about that?

I don't understand your first question.

In case question 1 is asking if earning fewer than 6 is possible, the answer is no, it's all 6 or none.

Elizabeth,
True, the CIRs for NCv2.2 SSc4.1 don't address your situation exactly, but it the rulings on 9/25/2008 and 7/13/2009 may help interpret your project.

The 9/25/ 2008 ruling suggests that private tour buses and school buses don't count as public transit, since they are not available to the general public.

The 7/13/2009 ruling suggests that the water taxi may comply if it serves the general public, and other transit lines link to where it launches/ departs for the monument. If you have any other public transit lines that come all the way to the monument without using the water taxi those could count as well. You'll need to show that two different public transit routes can be used to access the monument, such as two bus lines that provide access to the water taxi, or one that serves the launch and another that serves the monument directly.

You'll probably also need to show that the buses or water taxi stop within a 1/4 mile walk of the building entry.

We do have bus linkages on both ends, so your comments will help us to make that case. Thank you, David.

I'd estimate you may have difficulty getting the carpools accepted as an alternative compliance path, but if you follow the guidelines for a comprehensive transit management plan as referenced in the checklist above you might succeed. If you go into the review with a few extra buffer points you'll be a lot safer.

William this might contribute to an EP point here, but it's a bit more complex than that. The requirements for an EP point under SSc4 are discussed under the Checklists tab above.