Transportation data

Objective O6

By 2025, increase to 90% the proportion of sustainable commuting trips from a 2016 baseline of 85%

Progress: Completed

Completed icon

Description: The majority of trips to campus are by walking, cycling, transit, carpooling, and teleworking, however there is a large gap between student and employee travel.

Employee commuting patterns have not shifted significantly since the beginning of the measurement, though continued changes to the local transit system and improved walking/cycling infrastructure will help.

2020 saw tremendous shifts to a remote working and learning environment, which predictably altered all travel patterns. Waterloo has exceeded its modal shift target as a result of the remote work changes, but this is expected to be temporary.

Methodology

Boundary

All University of Waterloo campuses. Excludes Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo.

Methodology

Limitations and Exclusions: 2012 through 2016 data collection focused on employees only. Student data was collected through the 2018 Travel Survey.

Data collection: Surveys were hosted through the TravelWise program and promoted to all employees and students in the fall to avoid biasing summer or winter weather conditions. Employees and students were asked to select their primary mode of transportation, as well as describe the mode of transportation used while commuting to the University over the past week. The survey also asked participants to indicate the type of vehicle they drove, distance driven, and what factors influenced their decisions to take particular forms of travel to campus. Additional demographic identifiers, such as student/staff/faculty, age range, gender, and full/part-time status were also collected. Surveys are conducted on a bi-annual basis.

Calculations: The mode split for each user type (student and employee) was calculated by summing the trips recorded over the past week. Waterloo also calculated the mode split based on the primary mode of travel (that which is used most often), and the primary mode of travel seasonally adjusted. In aggregate, the seasonally adjusted primary mode was 3% higher for driving and cycling, and slightly lower for walking, teleworking, and transit. Since the results were very similar and within the survey’s margin of error, Waterloo utilizes here the trips over path week methodology, in order to be comparable with other companies and organizations locally completing the TravelWise survey.

To calculate the combined employee and student mode split, Waterloo extrapolated the survey results proportionally within each respondent group (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, and staff) relative to the overall campus population. This increased the mode split considerably due to the larger number of students on campus.
The overall mode split was compared to information from Parking Services on average parking lot utilization rates throughout the year. While these will only link to the drive-alone and potentially carpooling modes, there is a comparable average lot utilization rate to the reported drive-alone activity within the survey, which helps reinforce survey findings.

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An accessible version of this data can be downloaded here: Commuting Modal Split 2023 (Excel)

Indicators

88% combined student and employee trips to campus using a sustainable mode
90% student trips to campus by walking, cycling, carpooling, transit, or online learning
62% employee trips by walking, cycling, transit, carpooling, or telework

Actions and accomplishments

2023

  • In June, Waterloo joined the region-wide Neuron e-bike and e-scooter share
    pilot, supporting sustainable transportation options between the campus and
    broader community.

2022

  • The Sustainability Office hosted its annual Bike Fair, engaging over 250 campus community members on active and sustainable transportation programs and resources

Historic actions and accomplishments

2021

  • Waterloo received funding through the NRCAN ZEVIP program to expand 15 new electric vehicle charging stations on campus
  • Waterloo completed construction on and opened for use the secure bike cage between EV3 and ML
  • The Sustainability Office hosted virtual Bike Month programming to encourage active and sustainable transportation at home

2020

  • Most students and employees pivoted to remote working given pandemic restrictions
  • The Sustainability Office hosted virtual Bike Month programming to encourage active and sustainable transportation at home

2019

  • Official launch of ION on June 21, with free service until July 1
  • Waterloo began pilot of electric scooters with Lime on South Campus and along the Laurel Trail
  • The Sustainability Office hosted panel discussion on Sustainable Travel at annual Staff Conference
  • The Sustainability Office piloted Dropbike in collaboration with City and Region of Waterloo
  • Continued construction of secure bike cage
  • The Sustainability Office purchased 10 additional bike racks for outside buildings
  • Campus Housing launched new fix-it stations at all residence buildings
  • The Sustainability Office hosted annual Bike Month campaign, including a Bike Lunch and month-long cycling challenge

2018

  • ION construction continued next to the campus
  • An EB402 capstone project team conducted a research project to further analyze employee commuting data prior to the launch of ION
  • Campus-wide Travel Survey was administered in fall term
  • The Sustainability Office included a session on Sustainable Travel in the newly-launched Sustainability Certificate
  • Multiple parties raised funds and received approvals for the construction of a secure bike cage for 48 bikes, next to EV3 and ML

2017

  • Waterloo piloted the Community Access BikeShare program with 15 bikes at three stations

Objective O7

By 2020, increase electric and alternative-fuel vehicle use on campus

Progress: Complete

Completed icon

Description: Waterloo launched electric vehicle charging stations on East Campus in 2018, which have been highly utilized.

While the number of electric vehicles used in commuting remains small, they have more than doubled in the past four years.

Methodology

Boundary

All University of Waterloo campuses. Excludes Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo.

Methodology

Limitations and Exclusions: 2012 through 2016 data collection focused on employees only. Student data was collected through the 2018 Travel Survey.

Data collection: Surveys were hosted through the TravelWise program and promoted to all employees and students in the fall to avoid biasing summer or winter weather conditions. Employees and students were asked to select their primary mode of transportation, as well as describe the mode of transportation used while commuting to the University over the past week. The survey also asked participants to indicate the type of vehicle they drove, distance driven, and what factors influenced their decisions to take particular forms of travel to campus. Additional demographic identifiers, such as student/staff/faculty, age range, gender, and full/part-time status were also collected. Surveys are conducted on a bi-annual basis.

Calculations: The mode split for each user type (student and employee) was calculated by summing the trips recorded over the past week. Waterloo also calculated the mode split based on the primary mode of travel (that which is used most often), and the primary mode of travel seasonally adjusted. In aggregate, the seasonally adjusted primary mode was 3% higher for driving and cycling, and slightly lower for walking, teleworking, and transit. Since the results were very similar and within the survey’s margin of error, Waterloo utilizes here the trips over path week methodology, in order to be comparable with other companies and organizations locally completing the TravelWise survey.

To calculate the combined employee and student mode split, Waterloo extrapolated the survey results proportionally within each respondent group (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, and staff) relative to the overall campus population. This increased the mode split considerably due to the larger number of students on campus.
The overall mode split was compared to information from Parking Services on average parking lot utilization rates throughout the year. While these will only link to the drive-alone and potentially carpooling modes, there is a comparable average lot utilization rate to the reported drive-alone activity within the survey, which helps reinforce survey findings.

Indicators

3.3% of vehicles used to commute to campus are electric or plug-in hybrid electric
18 publicly available EV chargers on campus or in development

Actions and accomplishments

Historic actions and accomplishments

2018

  • Three electric vehicle charging stations were launched next to Engineering 6, including one level 3 electric vehicle charging station, and two level 2 stations, supported by the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy
  • Sustainable Campus Initiative hosted multiple Electric Vehicle showcase days on campus for students and staff to view EVs

Objective O8

By 2025, reduce fossil fuel consumption across the campus fleet by 25% from a 2015 baseline

Progress: Mostly Complete

Pie chart 75% complete - mostly complete

Description: Waterloo does not currently have a cohesive fleet management approach to reduce fuel consumption or increase efficiency. However, the replacement of aging vehicles with more fuel-efficient models has helped bring down some fuel consumption, and several vehicles have rolled over to hybrid models and a new electric vehicle. Targeted replacement of appropriate vehicles to right-sized or electric models at their end of life must be made to continue this momentum and enable Waterloo to reach its objective.

The significant drop in fuel consumption in 2020 was largely pandemic-related, and is expected to rebound as activity resumes on campus.

Methodology

Boundary

All University of Waterloo campuses, excluding Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo.

Methodology

The percentage of electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles traveling to campus was generated through the 2018 and 2020 travel surveys. Participants who primarily drove to campus were asked to identify their vehicle class, including electric/PHEV and hybrid models.

Enable JavaScript to view data visualisation.

An accessible version of this data can be downloaded here: Fleet Fuel Consumption 2023 (Excel)

Indicators

24% Decrease in fuel consumption since 2019
167,713 L Total fuel consumption (2021)

Actions and accomplishments

2022

  • With support from the Provost’s vehicle electrification incentive, Waterloo continues
    to green its vehicle fleet. In 2022, this included a new Chevy Bolt for use by Print and
    Retail Solutions to support their operations, as well as two new Ford eTransit delivery
    vans used by Central Stores to deliver mail, shipping, and other materials around
    the University community
  • A collaboration between the Sustainability Office, Waterloo Climate
    Institute, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics, Waterloo International,
    and Finance met to explore ways for groups on campus to reduce the environmental
    impact of air travel. An initial report from the working group established methods for
    better quantification of air travel, and a list of opportunities to reduce travel where
    possible.

2021

  • Plant Operations - Design purchased the campus' first fully electric vehicle
  • Waterloo initiated a telematics pilot over 30 vehicles to identify feasibility for electrification as well as opportunity for driver education around anti-idling and safety

Historic actions and accomplishments

2020

  • Central Stores purchased a second hybrid vehicle

2019

  • Custodial Services purchased a hybrid vehicle

2018

  • Central Stores purchased the campus’ first hybrid vehicle

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