Ecologically-Designed Parking

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• Parking Garages: Parking Structure 1 and 2 were upgraded in 2010 with new high efficiency fluorescent, LED, and fiber optic lighting systems as part of WKU’s Energy Savings Performance Contract. The new lighting has reduced the electrical usage of these lots by 54%, saving 802,575 kWh annually. The project has improved safety while using far less energy.

 

• Surface Lots: WKU Parking and Transportation Services and Planning, Design and Construction Department incorporated sustainable features into parking lot designs at WKU to reduce stormwater run-off, the heat island effect, and energy consumption. In 2009, the Chestnut Street North Lot underwent a complete renovation. In the new design, greenspace was expanded, which reduced the surface area of asphalt from 1.3 acres to 1.1 acres. Permeable concrete was utilized in the lowest section of the parking lot. These two features have reduced stormwater run-off from this parking lot by 47%. Also in 2009, the Adams Street and University Boulevard parking lots also got makeovers, using rain gardens with native plants and permeable concrete to reduce stormwater runoff. In 2010, the Mimosa and Minton Lots were improved, with use of permeable concrete to reduce stormwater run-off and reflective coating to reduce the heat island effect. These improvements contributed to the LEED Gold status of Gary Ransdell Hall.  

 

• Parksmart Certification: Parking Structure 3 received a Parksmart Bronze certification from the Green Business Certification Inc in 2018. PS3 was the first parking structure in Kentucky and the 26^th in the world to receive a Parksmart certification. Parksmart is the world’s only certification system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design, construction and operation. The Parksmart certification process looks at four components:  Management, Programs, Technology and Structure Design and Innovation. An informational sign is installed on the first floor of PS3 that describes the sustainable features of the structure. These include an efficient LED lighting system, electric vehicle charging stations, air pump station and bicycle repair station.  During construction, 82 percent of the building materials in the precast structural system were extracted or manufactured within 300 miles of the site. Nearly 82 percent of the construction waste was recycled. The project incorporated and reconfigured the adjacent campus transit hub to improve pedestrian safety, bus circulation and traffic flow and provides a connection for students to the campus and Bowling Green’s GObg Transit Center.

 

• Sustainable Fleet: WKU Parking and Transportation is striving for the NAFA Sustainable Fleet accreditation. This program requires PTS maximize efficiency of all vehicles owned by the university. NAFA defines a sustainable fleet as one that manages and reduces net environmental impacts from fleet operations at or ahead of pace required for environmental need by demonstrating that the fleet is:
  • Improving air quality through
  • emission reduction;
  • Increasing fuel efficiency; and
  • Reducing fuel usage.

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 Alternative Transportation

• Topper Transit: WKU Topper Transit has a fleet of 11 buses providing on and off campus transportation services for Western Kentucky University.  On-campus service is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors. The three fixed routes (White Line, Red Line, Blue Line) move passengers from point to point around campus. Off-campus service (Shopping Shuttle/Green Line) is used to transport passenger to and from area shopping/recreation/housing centers. Para-transit service is provided for disabled passengers and requires an ADA boarding pass, which is available at the PTS office at no charge. Shuttle services are also available for special university events. Alternative Transportation Options

 

• GoBG Public Transit:The City of Bowling Green offers public transit service to its citizens as GObg. The GObg routes extend to the WKU campus with several popular stops. The new purple line includes transportation to area supermarkets and local apartment complexes. Unlimited ride bus passes, for a full semester, are available at the PTS office for only $10.00.