UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 11, Page 1
November 11, 1993
Survey responses positive, follow-up efforts planned

     About 71 percent of University of Delaware employees travel to work
alone, nearly 10 percent car pool and more than 11 percent walk, ride a
bicycle or use public transit, according to preliminary results of a survey
distributed to Newark campus employees in late September.
     The survey was the first step in a lengthy process to ensure that the
University complies with provisions of the federal Clean Air Act.
     While the preliminary figures are encouraging, according to Douglas
Tuttle, director of public safety, they are not complete and only provide a
rough indication of the actual numbers.
     "That's because about 24 percent, or nearly 1,000 individuals, have
not returned the survey as requested," Tuttle said.
     A follow-up program is planned to contact employees who did not
respond to the initial survey. These individuals will be sent information
and a second copy of the survey, he said.
     Tuttle explained that a major focus of the federal legislation is the
reduction of the number of single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs) that arrive at
worksites with more than 100 employees. In connection with the federal
legislation, the University has as its goal to increase to 1.5 the number
of individuals in each vehicle commuting to campus.
     So, Tuttle said, while the good news is that initial survey responses
and statistics are promising, there is a sense of frustration because state
regulations require that each survey that remains unreturned is treated as
a single-occupant vehicle commuter, which is most probably not the case.
     "As a result," he said, "the U. of D.'s computed average passenger
occupancy could drop well below the mandated target of 1.5 persons per
vehicle."
     The survey was distributed, in part, to determine as accurately as
possible the Newark campus' current SOV commuting statistic. Another
objective of the questionnaire, Tuttle explained, is to determine the time
of arrival at work for each responding employee and then to relate that
information to each person's residence.
     A computer program will use these statistics to help determine areas
where clusters of employees reside, opening up possibilities for new
carpooling programs and indicating where mass transit services might be
offered in the future.
     While employees' reasons for not responding to the survey may be
varied, Tuttle stressed that individuals should not be defensive about
providing the information requested.
     "The survey results will not be used to force anyone to do anything
differently in terms of commuting," he said. Rather, the information will
serve as the basis for development of immediate and long-range parking and
commuting strategies and determination of possible incentives to offer
employees for change, he explained.
     Any employee who needs a survey or who has questions about the process
is urged to contact Jim Grimes, traffic manager, at 831-1184, or via e-mail
to James.Grimes@MVS.