ACC Partners with Zipcar to Offer Car Sharing at Rio Grande Campus

Austin Community College is launching a partnership with Zipcar Inc. to provide car sharing services at Rio Grande Campus. It is among a number of college initiatives to promote sustainable transportation options.

“Rio Grande’s downtown location makes car sharing a convenient choice for many of our students and employees,” says Andy Kim, the college’s director of environmental stewardship. “They can use car sharing in conjunction with our other transportation efforts, such as transit passes, to easily get around while reducing parking congestion on campus.”

Through the Zipcar partnership, ACC students, faculty, and staff can join for the discounted membership fee of $25 this year. The costs of gas, insurance, reserved parking, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included with each reservation. While the program is open to all ACC students and employees, cars will be located near Rio Grande Campus, on 12th and Rio Grande streets. The program initially includes two vehicles.

“We are thrilled to welcome Austin Community College to the Zipcar University program, and are excited to help the campus offer convenient, cost-effective, and sustainable transportation options for its students, faculty, and staff,” said Dan Grossman, a regional vice president at Zipcar.

Students and employees can find more information about the program and the link to register on the college’s sustainability webpage, austincc.edu/sustainability.

ACC is a commuter college, and developing eco-friendly transportation solutions is a major focus of ACC’s commitment to sustainable practices. In addition to car sharing, other efforts include:

  • Green Pass – Capital Metro passes provided to students and employees at no additional cost; Green Pass users have taken more than 2.6 million rides since the program began in 2010
  • Green Car Parking – Priority parking for low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles
  • Carpooling – Resources for students and employees who wish to carpool
  • Electric Vehicle Charging – Electric vehicle charging stations at campuses and administrative locations in Austin and Round Rock; open to the college and the community

ACC initiated its collegewide commitment to environmental stewardship in 2009 with the passage of a Board of Trustees policy on sustainable practices. In addition to sustainable transportation programs, ACC initiatives include:

  • ACC Energy Project: Extensive solar panel systems at Eastview, Northridge, and Round Rock campuses
  • Green Fountain: Water bottle filling stations
  • Incandescent Bulb Phase-Out: Elimination of incandescent light bulbs and installation of energy-efficient lighting
  • Green Building: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards for new construction and major renovations
  • Culinary Arts Goes Green: Implementation of composting and use of biodegradable/recyclable materials in the Culinary Arts Program

ACC’s commitment to sustainable practices also is reflected in the college’s many educational programs that prepare students for green economy careers. The college offers training in solar panel systems (photovoltaics), wind power, energy-efficient structures, green building, weatherization, alternative fuel vehicles, managing for sustainability, and more.

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