The Lab’s newly formed Vehicle Access and Alternative Transportation Advisory Group (VAATAG) is working on potential solutions to accommodate the Lab’s growing population on the main site and to hold off a near-term vehicle access fee.
So far the 31-member group has met three times to discuss possible solutions for easing parking and traffic congestion in anticipation of losing nearly 300 parking spots this summer. They are weighing the pros, cons, feasibility, and constraints of popular commuting options, such as casual vs. formal carpools, vanpools, ride services, telecommuting, expanded shuttle services, and bicycling as well as incentive programs to reward employees who carpool, take public transit, or ride their bikes to work. The advisory group is also weighing the benefits of developing a separate shuttle service (equipped with bike trailers) for bicycle commuters.
VAATAG was formed after Lab Director Paul Alivisatos announced last fall that he was suspending a previous vehicle access plan in order to develop a new one with broader community input. About 100 names were submitted, of which 31 were selected to serve. The group chair is John Elliott, the Lab’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
The advisory group is charged with providing input and advice while also serving an outreach role. “The function of the group is to be an advisory committee,” said Alivisatos at the group’s first meeting. “Lab management will have to make a decision. Our great hope is that you each will be reaching out to the community of Lab employees that you’re representative of.”
Groundbreaking on the Integrative Genomics Building starts summer 2016, at which time the old Bevatron site will lose about 150 to 200 parking spaces. Additionally, either a portion or all of Lot D (“the pit”) will be set aside for construction contractors. Over the last 11 months the main site gained more than 150 commuters as the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis moved from its Seventh Street location in Berkeley to the General Purpose Laboratory and Chu Hall, and computing staff moved from downtown Oakland to Wang Hall.
In recent meetings the advisory group learned about cost constraints on building on-site parking and extending shuttle bus routes into employees’ neighborhoods. Chief Operating Officer Glenn Kubiak encouraged them to consider carpooling solutions and other commuting alternatives that would avoid a near-term fee.
“I know many people would like to see the Laboratory step up and essentially buy our way out of this problem,” Alivisatos said. “I’m sympathetic to that. But the pressures on our indirect costs are really intense. If they go up we lose our ability to compete.”
The group’s charter is posted online. “This group can play a very central role in the development of the Lab’s approach,” said Elliott. “We’ll be moving forward at a relatively urgent pace over the coming months.”
Those not selected for the advisory group have been invited to join a focus group that will provide feedback as programs develop. A description of the selection process along with lists of members of both groups are available at commute.lbl.gov, the Lab’s Transportation and Vehicle Access website. Diversity was considered in selecting the group, particularly diversity in gender, commute distance, commute mode, and job category.
Staff can also provide input via commute.lbl.gov.
– by Theresa Duque and Julie Chao