Last year, approximately 42 percent of all UA employees used an alternative mode of transportation once a week, finishing well above the mandated goal of 28 percent set by the Pima Association of Governments, said a spokesman for UA Parking and Transportation Services.

All University of Arizona faculty and staff are being asked to fill out a travel-reduction survey to determine how they get to and from campus and to find out how many employees use alternative transportation, said Larry Barton, associate director of Parking and Transportation Services.

The surveys were handed out Sept. 16 and must be completed by Oct. 11. The results should be available in early December, Barton said.

The Travel Reduction Program is a locally-mandated, ordinance-based program created to improve regional air quality and reduce traffic congestion by encouraging the use of alternate modes of transportation.

Some alternative modes of transportation are car pooling, busing, bicycling and walking.

The Pima Association of Governments includes five local jurisdictions: Pima County, Tucson, South Tucson, Marana and Oro Valley.

In order to meet the mandated goals set by the program, the UA must have a 70 percent response rate on the survey, Barton said. He said 77 percent of UA employees responded last year.

In 1988, Pima County, Tucson, South Tucson, Marana and Oro Valley passed individual travel-reduction ordinances, creating the program that is implemented through the association, according to a news release from the association of governments.

The program is overseen by a regional task force, and these members, including Barton, are nominated and elected by participating employers, the release said.

Employers with 100 or more full-time employees at one work site must participate, and those with fewer can participate voluntaril. Requirements of the program are:

• Designate a transportation coordinator to administer the program at the work site.
• Annually conduct a survey of employee transportation patterns.
• Annually write and implement a Travel Reduction Plan.
• Annually distribute alternate-mode information to employees.

With 12,527 employees, the UA is the largest employer in Pima County, Barton said.

"People look to the university as a leader in this program, and we will continue to do our share in helping to improve air quality standards in this region," Barton said.

Since its inception in 1988, the UA has met every mandated goal set, Barton said. He said the mandated goal increases one percent each year, making it increasingly more difficult.

As UA transportation coordinator, Barton is in charge of developing programs to increase use of alternative transportation.

Barton said Sun Tran and car pool programs are very successful.

In 1984, the UA became the first employer in Pima County to create an alternative transportation program, he said.

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