| Local Policy Description: | Increase Fuel Efficiency and Downsize Vehicles
The City should require that all new vehicles purchased by the City for municipal use be the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the class required for the job. Additionally, current vehicles in every department shall be evaluated to determine if the size and the fuel type of the vehicles are appropriate based on the frequency and the type of usage. Where feasible, the City of Medford should purchase smaller vehicles for each department.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
The City of Medford could commit to purchasing AFVs to replace gasoline and diesel vehicles currently in the City's fleet. The City of Medford may consider a goal of having 50% of all new light duty vehicles purchased for the City be AFVs, by 2003. In addition to the above fuel options, the City can also consider gasoline-electric hybrids for local work in the interim. Although hybrid vehicles are not nationally considered AFVs due to the fact that they utilize gasoline, the City of
Medford believes they have could be useful in certain positions within the City. Hybrid vehicles are ideal for most of the inspectors within the City that utilize a vehicle if they are traveling locally at slower speeds and do not need to carry a significant amount of materials. The City should commit to gradually turning its municipal fleet over to alternative fuels such as CNG. Additionally, the City should make a commitment to support the construction of any alternative fueling station within Medford, provided that the fuel will be available to municipal vehicles and will aid in the conversion of the City fleet to AFVs.
Support Cleaner Fuel School Buses
Since public school buses are contracted for use, the City could adjust its contract to specify the use of alternative and cleaner fuel buses. There has already been some discussion between the City and Joseph's Transportation, the current contract holder, regarding pursuing an investment in cleaner fuel buses. The City of Medford is willing to assist Joseph's and any other bus company with whatever information they may require to make decisions on purchasing cleaner fuels buses. By 2003, the City should also require that 25% of the public school buses are AFVs.
Idling Policy
The City of Medford will consider establishing an Idling Enforcement Program for municipal operations, which will enforce the 5-minute idling time prescribed by the State regulations. The primary method of enforcement will be through an educational program as well as through incentives. The City can provide incentives in the form of public recognition for City employees who obey the idling policies of the State and City government.
Trip Reduction Program-City Hall Employees
The City aims to develop and manage a variety of commuter Trip Reduction Programs designed to encourage vanpooling, carpooling, use of transit services, bicycling, and walking by City employees commuting to and from work. These commuter programs will be available to all City employees not requiring the use of their own vehicle for work related business. The goals of these types of programs is to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce energy consumption, and curtail vehicle emissions and air pollution to create a healthier workforce and downtown environment. Some trip reduction initiatives are listed below.
The City of Medford can organize carpools and vanpools for City employees who live in the same areas of Medford. Ideally, the employees will rotate drivers each day. The City can also provide preferential parking for the carpools. This will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it will also cut gasoline costs for each member of the carpool.
Various incentives can be offered to those employees that take advantage of the Program. The City will consider seeking discounts and coupons from local businesses for such things as lunch, clothing, and specialized items.
A City contact should be established to arrange for alternative transportation shuttle buses, carpools, vanpools, etc. for City Employees.
The City should also provide incentives and discounts to those employees that walk or bike to work. These employees will be completely eliminating emissions from their commute. Therefore, the City should do its best to provide bike racks and places for storing equipment.
The City can research the opportunity of getting involved in the Zipcar program. The most common comment regarding taking alternative modes of transportation to work is that the employees like to run errands on their breaks. The solution to this could be establishing a corporate account for the City of Medford employees with Zipcar. The Zipcar program is a Boston-based program which provides vehicles for people to use on an hourly basis. This type of situation is ideal for running errands. The City of Medford can set up a corporate account which will allow its employees to use the vehicle for various purposes throughout the day.
Bicycle Patrol Program
Bicycle patrols provide a low-cost and highly visible vehicle alternative that improves community relations and officer morale while reducing emissions. Over the years, the City has demonstrated the viability of using bicycles in place of patrol vehicles throughout the City. Currently, Medford owns eight bicycles and has officers that are certified to use them. Medford should continue to increase these numbers over the next nine years.
Biker/Pedestrian Friendly Roads
The four greatest impediments for commuters choosing to bike to work are weather, distance, safety, and inadequate facilities for storage and changing at their destination. Although the City does not have control over the weather or the distance a person commutes to work, it can work to ensure the safety of its bicycling community. One way to do this is provide more biker and pedestrian friendly roads. By adding more bike lanes in conjunction with road improvements
the City can demonstrate its commitment to its bicycling community and to its goal of reducing its per capita vehicle miles traveled, thereby reducing overall vehicle emissions. Additionally, the City can make an effort to provide more bike racks throughout the downtown area and outside City Hall and other public buildings. To encourage walking or biking among children, a "Walking Bus" program could be established through cooperation with the elementary schools. Such a program would allow parents to walk their kids to school. Those families that live closest to the schools their children attend would utilize this program. Similar programs have been initiated in other Massachusetts cities and have fostered strong parent-child relationships as well as created a greater sense of community when families walked together.
Encourage Transit Use by Local Business
In addition to municipal efforts, the City could work with the commercial and industrial sectors to encourage them to provide incentives for employees to utilize public transportation. This will create a cleaner Medford, while educating local workers and increasing business for transit operators.
City-Wide Trip Reduction Program
In an effort to encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation among all residents of Medford, the City can foster and provide information to businesses to establish their own Trip Reduction Programs. These Trip Reduction Programs can follow the template established by the Municipal Employee Trip Reduction Program. The programs can consist of many alternatives to commuting as a solo driver, such as organizing and providing funding for carpools, vanpools, the use of transit services, bicycling, and walking. The goals of these types of programs is to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce energy consumption, and curtail vehicle emissions and air pollution to create a healthier workforce and downtown environment.
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