Transportation
See our new holiday ride sharing program.
Overview
Boston University's urban setting provides significant benefits to faculty, staff and students. Yet, while the University’s cosmopolitan setting affords our community many transportation options it provides relatively few parking opportunities. In light of these facts and consistent with the University's commitment to our environment, all members of the University’s community are encouraged to explore alternative commuting methods and to use public transportation, carpooling, bicycling, and walking whenever possible. By doing so, our community members will help to improve the overall quality of our living environment and may dramatically reduce their commuter costs. The Office of Parking and Transportation Services is responsible for the management, maintenance, and enforcement of parking policies and regulations in all University parking lots, garages, and marked spaces on the Charles River Campus. The Office also administers the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Student Semester Pass and Faculty/Staff Monthly Pass Programs. The Manager of the Office of Parking and Transportation acts as the Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) whose responsibilities include the following:
- Post and distribute announcements concerning transportation options including car and van pool services and the public transportation programs offered by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Monitor, track, and help to evaluate the efficacy of State and departmental transportation programs
- Provide transit schedules and other up-to-date information about the Department of Environmental Protection’s Rideshare Program and other transportation programs, options, policies and regulations
- Coordinate the implementation and articulation of the State’s RideShare Program and the department’s RideMatch Program, and also responds to questions and inquiries about them
- Work with the Boston University Police to promote the University’s bicycle registration program
Carpooling & Vanpooling
Boston University’s Charles River Campus employees and students interested in carpooling can be matched through a web based ride-matching program (RideMatch) developed by the Office of Parking and Transportation Services in conjunction with the Office of Information Technology. This program offers its participants the opportunity to inform their like-minded colleagues of their willingness to carpool or vanpool and then to coordinate their commuter plans. Those interested in participating in the program may go to RideMatch on the Office of Parking and Transportation Services website. Preferential parking is provided in select lots to carpoolers and vanpoolers who purchase University parking passes.
Alternately, members of the community may be interested in using the services of the MassRides Program, which is a State program organized under the auspices of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Transportation.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Student Semester Pass
Each semester, approximately 5,100 students participate in the MBTA Semester Pass Program. Efforts to promote student participation in this program and to simplify its use are ongoing. MBTA Student Semester Passes can be purchased online either by credit card or via student accounts. Resident students can also elect to have their MBTA passes delivered to their on-campus mailrooms. The following table shows the increased levels of participation by Charles River Campus students in the MBTA’s Semester Pass Program.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Passes for Full-Time Faculty and Staff
Full-time faculty and staff members may apply for, purchase, and manage their MBTA monthly passes on-line through the University's Employee Link. Full-time faculty and staff may purchase MBTA passes via payroll deduction and up to $110 of their purchase can be sheltered from taxes. These tax savings apply only to MBTA passes purchased by the full-time employees for their own personal use. As an added convenience, MBTA monthly passes purchased through the University may be delivered to the employee’s payroll address. Monthly Charlie Tickets distributed in this manner are included within the employee’s school or department's payroll packet at the end of each month.
Zipcar
Boston University supports car sharing through it's partnership with Zipcar. Students, faculty and staff can receive discounted Zipcar memberships. Four Zipcar vehicles are conveniently located in the University owned Granby Annex Lot (665 Commonwealth Avenue). At that location, members can choose between hybrids and other low emissions vehicles. These vehicles are each designated as Smartway vehicles by the Environmental Protection Agency. Students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar for only $25 per year and pay no application fee, no monthly minimum, and no membership deposit. You must be over 21 years of age to join. For more information about Zipcar at Boston University, visit www.zipcar.com/bu .
