Lawrence J. Murphy, P.E. Rebecca Jablon, AICP CDM, Inc. The City of Asheville, North Carolina took on a challenging goal to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from City operations and services by 2% per year from 2007 levels until an 80% reduction is achieved. To achieve its goal, the City developed an Asheville Sustainability Management Plan (SMP). In 2008, the City’s fleet and employee commute were responsible for nearly a third of the City’s greenhouse gases. One key component to improving the sustainability in the City’s transportation sector is to go green. Asheville’s green transportation strategy is a comprehensive plan that focuses on reducing vehicle miles traveled and fuel consumption as well as encouraging an increase in public transportation use. The sustainable vision of Asheville and its goal to reduce greenhouse gases will conserve energy and improve the environment. Techniques employed and planned are transferrable to any municipality.

1. Asheville’s Transportation Strategy
Going Green!
Lawrence J. Murphy, P.E. and Rebecca Jablon, AICP, LEED AP
h d b bl
CDM
NYPTA s
NYPTA's Innovation and Sustainability Spring Conference
June 11, 2009

2. Presentation Outline
A Sustainable Asheville
Approach to Improving Sustainability
The Sustainability Plan
Looking Forward
g
Q/A
Photo Credit Mark Combs

3. A Sustainable Asheville
Sustainability for the City of Asheville is defined as responsible decision-making and
resource use with the intent of meeting our present needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their needs through achievement of excellence in
environmental stewardship, economic growth and social responsibility.
p, g p y
Photo Credit Mark Combs

4. A Sustainable Asheville
Public Benefits Minimization of Carbon &
Water Footprints
Waste Reduction
Prevention of Further Pollution
Resource Effi i
R Efficiency
Conservation & Protection of
Beneficial Land Reuse
Natural Resources
Advancement of Renewable
Ad t fR bl
Energy
Cost Savings
ECONOMIC GROWTH Stakeholder Engagement
+ ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
+ SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Strengthening of Economies
the “Triple Bottom Line”
Community Outreach

5. A Sustainable Asheville
ICLEI Member since 2006 and signed US Conference of Mayors
“Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement”
Created Sustainability Advisory Committee and Office of
Sustainability
Resolution passed in 2007 committing to a reduction of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2% per year until an 80%
reduction has been achieved.
– Resolution identifies the need f a management plan to achieve this and
l d f h d for l h h d
other sustainability goals

6. Improving Sustainability
Photo Credit Mark Combs

7. Approach to Improving Sustainability
A management system approach:
Aligns an organization around a
common value set
Provides a mechanism for organizing
diverse concepts and ideas into a
coordinated strategy for
implementation.
Provides a consistent mechanism for
monitoring progress and continuous
improvement.

8. Sustainability Plan
The Plan is reflective of and aligned with the management system
approach.
The Plan address the full spectrum of local government services
services,
including:
• water • buildings
• transportation • land use planning
• solid waste • communication
Strategies and actions, best practices, and institutional/policy
actions practices
recommendations identified for each Sector

9. Sustainability Plan
Section 1: Introduction
Established a Vision Statement and Guiding principles for a
Sustainable Asheville
Established a goal set for improving sustainability in each
sector: water, transportation, solid waste, buildings, land
use, and communication
Photo Credit Mark Combs

10. Sustainability Plan
GHG R d i Goals
Reduction G l
Participate in the City’s
City s
energy management
strategy to reduce
greenhouse gas
emissions
Copyright 2008 Camp Dresser & McKee Inc.

11. Sustainability Plan
Transportation Goals
Reduce vehicle miles
traveled by city employees
y y p y
for commuting
Reduce total fuel
consumption from city
ti f it
fleet vehicles
Increase transit ridership

12. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation
Established a baseline
for current GHG
emissions by City
operations and
p
predicted path of no-
action vs. meeting
reduction goal.

13. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation

14. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation
Existing Transportation Conditions
Ai
Airport-Regional with 0 5 M P
tR i l ith 0.5 Passengers
Bicycle-181 Miles, 10 Signed Routes
Greenway 3
Greenway-3 Miles, 29 Miles Planned
Transit/Paratransit-24 Fixed Routes,
1.5M Trips
Pedestrian-over 150 Miles of Sidewalk
Rail-Studying Passenger Rail Service

15. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation
City of Asheville FY 2008 Fleet
0% 3% Normal Use
10% Police Vehicles
14%
3% Light Vehicles (excluding cars),
< 15,000 GVW
< 15 000 GVW
24% Medium Vehicles, 15,000 ‐
32,000 GVW
Heavy Vehicles, > 32,000 GVW
46% Buses
B
ATS Fleet

16. All Vehicles
Vehicle Classification Total No. of Average Age Average
Vehicles (years) mpg
Normal Use 68 6.6 17.26
Police Vehicles 158 3.8 11.49
Light Vehicles (excluding cars),
< 15,000 Gross Vehicle Weight 310 7.7 11.04
(GVW)
Medium Vehicles, 15,000 - 32,000
19 13.1 5.34
GVW
Heavy Vehicles, > 32,000 GVW 93 8.6 3.06
Buses 3 20.2 6.43
ATS Fleet 21 9.6 --
TOTAL 672 7.08 8.97

17. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation
In 2008, the City of Asheville’s fleet
and employees’ work commute
employees
accounted for nearly 31% of the
total GHG emissions by City
g
government activities
70% of the Fleet uses Gasoline
25% of the Fleet uses Diesel
5% Remaining includes Hybrids,
Electric, Kerosene, and CNG
Photo Credit Mark Combs

18. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation
Asheville Commuter Survey
Over 80% C
O Commute < 25 miles/day
il /d
Nearly 50% Work 9 to 5
65% use Private Vehicle and 30%
use City Vehicle for Commute
Less than 1% Commuters use ATF
Vehicles

19. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation
Transportation Demand Management
E
Emergency Rid H
Ride Home
Flexible Work Schedule
PassPort
Marketing and Education
– Share the Ride
– Free Transit Promotion

20. Sustainability Plan
Section 2 – Sustainability Assessment: The Foundation
Transportation System Management
Traffic C l i
T ffi Calming
Green Transit
CNG Fueling Station

21. Sustainability Plan
Section 3 – Opportunities: A Sustainable Future
Opportunities for Innovation, Tools
& Best Practices in Transportation
– Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled
– Reducing Fuel Consumption by City
Fleet
– Increase Transit Ridership
– Secure Funding Photo Credit Mark Combs

22. Sustainability Plan
Section 3 – Opportunities: A Sustainable Future
Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled
Average C
A Commute i 13 miles
is il
1248 (81%) Responses Stated a If one individual chooses
Willingness to Try Alternative
g y an alternative travel mode
Forms of Transportation to Work 3 or more days per week
for a year, nearly ½ a ton
City Provided Shuttle (26%), of GHG emissions are
Vanpool (23%), Park and Ride saved.
Shuttle (18%), Bus (17%),
Bike/Walk (17%)

23. Incentive(s) to Persuade Change of Mode of Travel:
Total N
T t l No. of
f
Incentives
Employees
Access to vehicles at work 276
More convenient bus service 197
More flexible work hours 166
Free taxi ride home in case of
140
an emergency
Help finding
H l fi di someone t to
134
carpool/ vanpool with
Available bus, bicycle and park
90
and ride information
Free bus passes provided by
88
your employer
No incentive 172

24. Sustainability Plan
Section 3 – Opportunities: A Sustainable Future
Miles Reduction Policy Recommendations
Approximately 18% of
Marketing Campaign all survey responses
Car/Vanpool Program Enhancement displayed an
unawareness of existing
f i i
Expand Flex-Time Program alternative
transportation incentive
Parking Cash-Out Program p g
programs.
Support Bike/Greenways

25. Sustainability Plan
Section 3 – Opportunities: A Sustainable Future
Reducing Fuel Consumption in
City Fleet
Fleet Released over 6,000 Tons of
GHG in 2008
Vehicle Reduction
Purchase of Hybrid and CNG
Powered Vehicles
Source: Zipcar.com
Fleet Size, Fuel Type, and
Efficiency are Critical Factors

26. Sustainability Plan
Section 3 – Opportunities: A Sustainable Future
Reducing Fuel Consumption
Policy Recommendations
Downsize Fleet
Vehicle Pool
Idle Reduction Program
Virtual Meetings
Alternative Fuel Usage
Source: City of Richmond, B.C.

27. Sustainability Plan
Section 3 – Opportunities: A Sustainable Future
Increase Transit Ridership Policy
Recommendations
Park and Ride Lots
Downtown Shuttle Services Approximately 48% of
survey respondents
d t
would be willing to try a
shuttle service.

28. Sustainability Plan
Section 3 – Opportunities: A Sustainable Future
Secure Appropriate Funding
Federal
d l
– FHWA
– FTA
State
– Highway Safety Program
– Public Transportation Grants
p

29. Sustainability Plan
Section 4 – Next Steps: Moving Forward
Rating and ranking scheme helps to identify
short-, mid- and long-term opportunities.
Tools and templates have been developed for:
– Implementation plan for specific opportunity
– Monitoring progression of multiple opportunities
– Measuring performance towards goals
Communication and reporting protocols are
being developed

30. Questions?
Lawrence J. Murphy, P.E.
J p y,
212.221.9462
murphylj@cdm.com
Rebecca Jablon, AICP, LEED AP
Jablon AICP
703.485.8485
jablonrs@cdm.com
Photo Credit Mark Combs