TRANSPORTATION Project Name
Duration (years)
Initial Investment
Average Discounted Annual Cash Flow
Net Present Value
Discounted Payback Period (years)
Annual Reductions (MTCO2e)
Total Lifetime Reductions (MTCO2e)
Biodiesel Fuel Transition
25
$6,000
($1,409)
($36,644)
N/A
3,734
93,350
Fully Subsidized Bus Passes
25
$0
($28,223)
($733,790)
N/A
1,127
28,186
Increased RIPTA Bus Trip Frequency
25
$0
$0
$0
<1
1,125
28,113
Carpool Parking Lot
25
$32,600
($74,358)
($1,933,304)
N/A
880
22,000
Freshman Parking Restrictions
25
$0
($100,274)
($2,433,312)
N/A
810
20,250
Alternative Transportation Marketing Program
25
$5,000
($2,458)
($63,917)
N/A
319
7,974
Employee Telecommuting
25
$0
$0
$0
<1
181
4,516
Car Sharing Program
25
$0
($5,199)
($135,184)
N/A
180
4,500
Infrequent Parking Permits
25
$250
($2,987)
($77,663)
N/A
158
3,960
Table 7: Financial analysis of proposed transportation projects. Note: Parentheses indicate a negative number.
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION To decrease emissions even further, there are additional transportation projects that should be more carefully analyzed. It should also be noted that implementation of the following projects may strengthen the desired effects of the transportation projects previously mentioned.
Increasing On-Campus Housing
According to the University’s Office of Institutional Research, 45% of undergraduates live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, and the remaining 55% live off campus and/or commute. Increasing and diversifying on-campus housing options will encourage more students to reside on campus and therefore reduce emissions from commuting. Although this strategy will likely increase on-campus emissions, it is easier to regulate emissions from campus operations than it is to regulate personal vehicle emissions. Given the current economic climate, private developers may be interested in constructing and operating “green” apartments on campus because it represents a guaranteed residential population. This is just one
URI Climate Action Plan
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