Sustainable Transportation Plan

Image of students parking their bikes on campus

Overview

The University of Waterloo is developing its first institutional Sustainable Transportation Plan. It will establish key directions and a framework for how the campus can support sustainable transportation choices over the short, medium, and long term. This Plan aligns with and advances a number of institutional strategies and commitments, including including from the Environmental Sustainability Strategy to increase sustainable commuting, increase EV use on campus, and decrease fuel consumption of UW fleet vehicles, as well as the UW’s Shift:Neutral climate action goals, the institutional Strategic Plan, and Waterloo at 100. 

The core objectives for the Sustainable Transportation Plan will include:

  • Improving the quality of and removing barriers to sustainable transportation options to enhance employee, student, and stakeholder wellness and satisfaction 

  • Optimizing effective and efficient use of university assets, including land, parking lots, and fleet 

  • Effectively delivering core operations and logistics 

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts from commuting and fleet 

  • Strengthening safe and accessible use of the campus for all users 

Topics and Focus Areas

The Sustainable Transportation Plan will cover the following topics, with recommended activities and directions for the short, medium, and long-term:

Commuting Icon showing a person riding a bike

Commuting

Relating to efforts to improve choices and quality for students, employees, and visitors to travel sustainably to/from the campus. 

Circulation and movement icon showing transportation markers

Circulation and Movement

Relating to efforts to move people and goods around and between campuses, including walkways, roadways, and shuttles. 

Fleet icon showing a van

Fleet

Relating to efforts to decarbonize and ensure efficiency of University-owned vehicles. 

Parking icon showing a car

Parking

Relating to efforts to provide efficient parking that aligns with sustainable transportation directions and campus goals/needs. 

Process and Partners

The project is being co-led by Sustainable Transportation within Plant Operations, as well as the Sustainability Office. It is informed by a wider Sustainable Transportation Planning Group who will provide advice, support, input, and feedback throughout the project, and is made up of students, staff, and faculty. This group began meeting in July 2024 and will continue their work until May 2025.  

Here is a snapshot of the project timelines: 

  1. 2024
    1. May
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        Project Initiation

        Development of project plan and engaging core project team

    2. Jun
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        Background Research and Peer Scan

        From June through September, Research and background review, including looking at programs at peer institutions 

    3. Oct
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        Consultations and Input

        From October 2024 through January 2025, consultations across UW and in surrounding communities, including workshops, open houses, travel survey, targeted stakeholder engagement 

    4. Nov
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        Ideation and Concept Development

        From November through March, ideation and development, including identifying actions and initiatives, targets and milestones 

  2. 2025
    1. Mar
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        STP Drafting

        From March - May, drafting of the Sustainable Transportation Plan and core recommendations

    2. Jun
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        Completion and Approvals

        Development of final draft plan and initiation of approvals

How Can I Be Involved?

There will be opportunities for all campus community members, whether you are a student, staff member, faculty member, visitor, or alumni, to provide input into the development of the plan. All members of the University have important roles and experiences as users of the campus spaces and services, and your feedback and ideas will be important.

In November 2024, we encouraged participation in a travel survey, and received thousands of responses. Throughout early 2025, we encourage participation in the following opportunities to connect about the project:

Open Houses:

  • Wednesday, January 22nd, 1:00-3:00pm, Davis Centre Foyer
  • Thursday, January 30th, 11:00am-1:00pm, SLC Marketplace

Accessible Transportation Engagements:

We understand there are specific barriers and considerations related to disability access that require dedicated attention.  Individuals with lived experience with access barriers to transportation or supporting someone with a disability are further invited to drop in* during one of the following additional sessions:

  • Friday January 17, 2025, 10:00-11:30am - Online through Microsoft Teams. Please register online to receive the Teams meeting link
  • Tuesday January 21, 11:00am - 1:00pm - Student Life Centre, Black & Gold room upstairs (elevator available)
  • Wednesday January 29, 2025, 1:30 - 3:30pm - Student Life Centre, Black & Gold room upstairs (elevator available)

*Please note that individuals can attend any part of the session and are not expected to attend the full time.

Stay tuned for more information on upcoming opportunities, or feel free to share feedback and suggestions below at any time!