Following Ellen Ford’s Level 1 email to the Lab community opening a dialog about transportation on January 17, 2019, we received dozens and dozens of comments, questions, and suggestions. As these are too numerous to address individually, we developed this list of Frequently Asked Questions in response to the common themes we are hearing from you. We intend for this to be an ongoing dialog and the FAQ will evolve along with this conversation, so please continue to email commute@lbl.gov with your thoughts and questions.
Transportation
With the limited public transportation options, will the Lab reimburse me for rideshare or other costs to get to work?
No. The Lab can not use federal funds to reimburse employees for the costs of commuting to/from work, as the government has determined that commute is a personal expense.
If I have health concerns about utilizing public transportation when the Lab resumes operations, will the Lab reimburse me for rideshare or other costs to get to work?
No. The Lab can not use federal funds to reimburse employees for the costs of commuting to/from work, as the government has determined that commute is a personal expense.
What incentives are available for using public transportation or ridesharing applications? Can we receive discounts or tax breaks?
Wage Works uses pre-tax dollars to pay for your transit cost, including bus, train, BART, and vanpool. Place an order for a set monthly amount, up to $270, to come out of your paycheck, and the money is deducted and applied to your choice of a transit smart card such as a Clipper card or AC Transit pass. Lab employees can also use Wageworks to pay for Uber rides. Unfortunately, Uber seems to have a rule that only 5+ passenger seat cars are eligible for Wageworks. Another option is 511.org, which offers subsidies of up to $350 per month per vanpool to get to work.
Can we offer employees incentives to not drive or carpool?
It’s a good thought, and we need to determine what’s realistic. Transportation is considered a personal expense under the Lab’s contract, so we have to find ways to incentivize that don’t involve federal funding. That said, the Lab is exploring opportunities for financial incentives that may be applicable through other agency opportunities.
Does the Lab have a flexible work option policy?
Yes, the Lab has a flexible work option policy. Lab staff is encouraged to discuss options for balancing work-life needs with their supervisors.
Have we considered additional ride-sharing apps for employee commutes?
This is an area that we are actively exploring, and plan to have an option tailored to Lab staff and guests available in summer 2019.
How can we encourage motorcycles as a commute option? What if we offer motorcycle safety classes and change travel and parking policies to encourage motorcycle use?
This is an interesting thought. One thing we will definitely do is change the Lab’s parking policy to better accommodate motorcycles in the next few months.
Bikes
How can we better promote e-bikes at the Lab?
The Lab’s Parking & Transportation website has a page dedicated to bikes that include a lot of useful information to support biking at LBNL, including route maps, shuttle options, and Lab shower locations. Several nearby bike shops, including Trek Bikes, frequently run promotions and offer discounts for e-bikes. And Rad Power Bikes even offers bikes for as low as $1500.
Do we maintain a map of bike racks and shower facilities at the Lab?
Yes! Thanks to a community suggestion, we’ve added a layer for bike racks and another for showers on the Lab’s Interactive Site Map. You can find these under Layers in the lower left corner.
Can we install charging stations for e-bikes?
Most e-bike batteries are portable and can be brought into your work area to charge instead of charging at the location where the bike is parked.
What is the best way to bike to the Lab from east of the Oakland-Berkeley hills?
Your best option is probably taking Wildcat Canyon Road through Tilden Park. Another option is to take a bike path to a BART station, then taking BART and hopping on an LBNL shuttle. A couple of bike path options include the St. Stephens trail to the Orinda BART station and the Iron Horse trail to one of several BART stations.
Parking
Why doesn’t the Lab have more carpool spots?
The Lab currently has 23 spaces dedicated to carpools until 10 a.m. on workdays. We’re actively monitoring the use of these spaces to assess demand and will adjust the number, locations, and hours based on our needs.
Has the Lab looked at off-site parking, such as the lot behind the Greek Theater or Lawrence Hall of Science?
Yes, we will be leasing spaces at the Lawrence Hall of Science beginning in September 2019.
Why can’t we build a parking garage?
We’ve determined that building a parking garage is not feasible due to the high cost (approximately $50- 60,000 per space), environmental concerns, the topography of the site, and our community commitment to build only on previously developed sites. This option is further described in the Report of the Committee on Transportation and Parking in Support of Science, July 2015.
Have we considered attendant-assisted parking?
Yes, we will have attendant-assisted parking in the Blackberry Pit (Lot D) beginning in June 2019.
Can we park at the Richmond Field Station and take Bear Transit to downtown Berkeley? Or even park in the lot and carpool to the Lab?
Yes and yes. If you are interested in parking at the Richmond Field Station, either to take Bear Transit or to carpool, please email commute@lbl.gov. UC Berkeley has asked that we provide names and vehicle information. And don’t forget to display your LBNL parking permit, or email commute@lbl.gov if you don’t have one.
Shuttles
Can we create a shuttle route for the Pleasanton area? How about Walnut Creek? The Peninsula?
Unfortunately, we’re unable to use LBNL shuttles to service these areas. Our funding is very restrictive on how we allocate funds for transportation solutions, and we’re constrained to the immediate area of the main LBNL campus and between LBNL facilities.
Can we add stops to the Potter Street/ JBEI shuttle route? Can we extend the Potter Street route to include a stop at the Amtrak station? Can we run that shuttle earlier than 8 a.m.?
All great ideas! Beginning in May 2019, we added several stops on the Potter Street route and now start this route at 7:08 a.m.- an hour earlier than previously. While the route doesn’t stop right in front of the Amtrak station, the JBEI stop is a very short walk from the station.
Have we considered routing the North Berkeley shuttle to include Grizzly Peak Boulevard?
Our routes are designed to maximize service to the surrounding Lab population. We’ll review the Lab’s population distribution, and, if warranted, adjust routes to include Grizzly Peak Boulevard.
Have we considered alternate routes for the Blue and Orange shuttles to improve efficiency?
The current Orange and Blue routes reflect the most efficient way to provide shuttle service to the Lab community, but we’re always exploring ways to better serve the Lab community’s transportation needs. Keep the suggestions coming.
