ACC Honored for Green Transportation Initiatives

The Austin Community College District recently was honored by the Austin chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials for the college’s efforts to adopt and promote sustainable transportation practices. The college received the Higher Education Institution of the Year award.

“Sustainable transportation initiatives represent a major part of ACC’s quest to reduce our environmental footprint,” says Andrew Kim, director of environmental stewardship. “Alternative transportation not only helps ease parking congestion at the college’s campuses, but also eases road congestion for all of us who enjoy this great city.”

Among ACC’s sustainability initiatives is the Green Pass program, which provides free Capital Metro bus passes to ACC credit students and employees. The program is expected generate more than 1 million rides this year.

ACC also has worked with Austin’s Capital Metro Transit Authority to provide limited bus service to the Cypress Creek Campus in Cedar Park.

Additionally, the college is providing dedicated parking spaces for green cars – light-weight, fuel efficient vehicles that produce lower emissions – and preparing to support plug-in electric vehicles. Kim notes that Austin Energy predicts one in 10 vehicles on Central Texas roads will be electric by 2020. ACC will offer charging stations at nine locations by the end of this year.

Kim says ACC also has been encouraging carpooling to campuses. Students and employees can learn more about various carpooling options by visiting the Rideshare website.

To learn more about ACC’s latest sustainability programs or to submit ideas for going green, click here.

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