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Sustainable Sites 4.1 – Alternative Transportation – Public Transportation Access

Many LEED credits relate to each other. Some so much that LEED has combined them into a larger category name, with subcategories that highlight the differences between them. It actually helps with studying because it neatly organizes ideas and one can easily see how these credits all relate to each other. Sustainable sites credits 4.1-4.4 is an example of this. For the purposes of this website, I will separate each sub-category into its own post (like in the reference guide). They will share similar or exact implementations.

Public Transportation Access

Intention:

  1. Reduce Pollution from auto use
  2. Reduce land development from auto use

Implementation:

  • Case 1:
  1. locate project within 1/2 mi. from existing or future planned (and funded) train or subway station
  • Case 2:
  1. locate project within 1/4 mi. from two public or campus bus lines

Codes/Standards Applied:

  1. none

Extra Credit:

  • One SS4 extra credit point allowed by creating a ‘comprehensive transportation management plan’ showing a quantifiable reduction in auto use OR
  • One SS4 extra credit point Double the above options (1/2mi. of TWO train/rail/subway station or 1/4mi.from FOUR public or campus bus lines) AND 200 transit rides available each day at these stops.

Submittal Phase:

  • design

Links from Reference Guide:

  1. Office of Transportation and Air Quality
  2. Advanced Transportation Technology Institute

Other Sustainable Sites Credits

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22 Comments On This Post

  1. Is there any difference between public lines and transit buses?

    Reply
  2. From what I understand, there is no difference. As long as there are two different line of buses that are 1/4 mi. radius from the building entrance.

    Reply
  3. thanks. I need help to understand this Interpretation ( taken from page 62 of Reference Package for NC & Major Renovations LEED Canada – NC Version 1.0 ( adaptation of US 2.1).

    Park & Ride locations for buses are not equivalent to commuter rail stations. LEED recognizes that the environmental impacts of these two different transportation modes differ significantly. Transit buses consume an average of approximately 70% more energy per passenger mile than commuter rail.

    Reply
  4. Ok, my guess is this:

    Their definition of a transit bus is one that picks up people at a location and then drops them off at another – and that’s their sole purpose (with no stops in between). Like a “park and ride” location, for example. Those are those locations where people park their cars and then a bus (usually a shorter bus), picks up a group of people and takes them to a specific office or location. I guess LEED knows this has more of an environmental impact, therefore they don’t count these types of busses.

    A commuter rail station is your normal bus stop that is on a bus line that stops at several places.

    Let me know if that helps!

    Reply
  5. I am reading through the errata, there seems to be an extra credit for doubling of efficiency or something similar like that. Do you know anything about this?

    Reply
  6. Andy
    as far as I know, the ID credit is for all credit 4; and it needs to be a comprehensive transit plan.
    Perhaps if you demonstrate a doubling of efficiency would contribute to the overall plan….

    Reply
  7. Hey Andy,

    For S4.1, there is a special extra credit thing you can do. It’s outlined in the errata post I just did, which can be located here. I need to spend a little bit of time to update a few credits on my site for the new erratas, my apologies to all.

    Here you go:

    http://www.intheleed.com/leed-reference-guide-errata/

    Reply
  8. “One SS4 extra credit point allowed by creating a ‘comprehensive transportation management plan’ showing a quantifiable reduction in auto use.” Does anyone know what is involved in this plan?

    Reply
  9. Stumped by an explanation of a practice exam question and am hoping to get better insight by posting here.

    Q: A project building in a suburban area is located 5 miles from the nearest public rail line. The building will have 100 regular occupants and an average of 20 visitors per day. What is true about the project team’s ability to achieve SSc 4.1.

    A: (According to the guide) is (F) The project can achieve the credit by providing shuttle services, regardless of their degree of use. I had selected (D) the project cannot achieve the credit.

    My question has to do with the intent of the credit… what’s the point of using public transportation if the access to the public rail line is via an unqualified shuttle service that has no quantifiable frequency of use? I haven’t found reference to this answer in either the LEED AP Walkthrough or in the LEED NC Reference Guide. Please help.

    Reply
  10. Hi Franco –

    Even though it’s not (yet) a quantifiable requirement the intent is to facilitate the use of viable sites and existing buildings in locations which are underserved by public transportation. It keeps the onus on the project owner/developer. I wouldn’t be surprised if this shuttle option becomes more stringent like the exemplary performance option in the SS 4 credits.

    Reply
  11. How far into 2009 will the current 2.2 exam run through?

    Reply
  12. It’s my understanding from the USGBC that the old version of LEED will be used through March with LEED 2009 being implemented sometime in April or May- The dates continue to change at this point but you still have a could of months.

    Reply
  13. Hi,
    THe section Energy and Atmosphere (esp EAC1) seems to be the most challenging for me to remember. Quite a bit of the info, formualae, units and the numbers are a new to me. Has anyone encountered the same feeling. Can u pl suggest a good strategy.
    thanks
    Sukhen

    Reply
  14. Hello, I am trying to register to take the LEED For New Construction V 2.2 test at prometrics, but when asked to select an exam, the only options are:

    -Commercial Interiors Exam
    -Existing Buildings Exam
    -Leed AP + Operations and Maintenance Exam
    -Leed Green Associates Exam
    -New Construction and Major Renovations Exam

    Which is the appropriate test?

    Reply
  15. Hi Parker,

    “New Construction and Major Renovations Exam” is the one you should select.

    Good luck!

    Reply
  16. Hi Heidi,

    Thank you for the response on the shuttle service — that does make perfect sense. Can you please point me to where in the CIR’s or the NC reference guide this is specifically taken from?

    I can’t find it… and I am worried that there’s more of these bits that I might have missed in my review.

    Reply
  17. Hi Franco –

    The basic info for this answer is in the reference guide text. I should have been clearer in my answer to you. The rest of my answer is from working on a project for a campus – we didn’t have a CIR for this, it just came up with the LEED AP at that time who was on the team.

    When you read about the strategies and the approach to exemplary credit for the alternative transportation credits, you can get a bigger picture about the goals of LEED relating to all the SS credits. I have heard that the next revision of LEED will be even more focused on site development with all its implications.

    Reply
  18. For SS 4.1 – 4.4, an extra ID point can be earned by creating a comprehensive transportation management plan. For SS 4.1 only, there is another way to earn ID point by doubling the threshold of the base credit (Reference Guide page 51).

    Can I earn an ID point with the transportation plan from SS 4.2 – SS 4.4, AND an ID point with doubling the threshold from SS 4.1?

    Reply
  19. i think your allowed to use the id credit once. if you use it in a credit already, you cant use it again in another.

    Reply
  20. Question from a practice exam:

    The owner of a LEED project in a rural industrial development has decided to seek LEED certification just prior to the construction process, and the owner is concerned about added design costs. What credits might you recommend on this project: (choose 3)
    A. EQc8 Daylight & View
    B. EAc6 Green Power
    C. SSc 4.3 Alternative Transportation
    D. SSc 4.1 Alternative Transportation
    E. IDc 2, LEED Accredited Professional

    Answer are BCE. I wondered why not D? instead of C?
    What are the design involved in SSc4.1?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Stephanie,

    Im assuming it would not be D because the project is located in a “rural” industrial development. Due to its location, it would not be accessible to train and bus lines.

    Reply
  22. Can I get an ID point for each credit 4.1-4.4 as long as I present a different “Comprehensive plan” for each, or can I only achieve 1 ID point as a whole?

    Reply

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