For universities, transportation is crucial, but it can also be extremely inefficient and damaging if the administration fails to prioritize sustainability as a mission.

Because of this, the Department of Parking and Transportation Services has spent many years developing a transportation system that is both efficient and sustainable.

In 2021, Oklahoma State University placed sixth in the United States on the Times Higher Education IMPACT Ranking in the category of ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’, and placed sixth in the US in the category of ‘Affordable and Clean Energy.’ The years of work that DP&TS has put into campus transportation have helped OSU achieve this ranking.

The first big step the Department of Parking and Transportation Services took toward sustainability was switching from a diesel-chugging bus system to a fleet powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG burns cleaner than gasoline and diesel and releases less carbon dioxide per unit of energy provided, according to the federal Energy Information Administration.

“The diesel buses were not just an emissions problem, but a noise pollution problem as well,” Director of DP&TS Steven Spradling said. “We were glad to start phasing them out.”

Compressed natural gas vehicles have a few issues that will keep them from mass adoption among everyday drivers, including much larger fuel tanks and less range, but the size and space buses have access to make them an ideal place to use the cleaner-burning fuel.

“I think using CNG is a good intermediary step in reducing emissions and moving towards a carbon-neutral future,” Spradling said.

More recently, DP&TS has worked to incentivize students and university employees to reduce emissions with an online carpool program that connects people who want to save on gasoline costs. The Department of Parking and Transportation Services has also begun installing electric scooter/motorcycle parking spots closer to buildings, so people are more likely to use vehicles that use less gasoline.

In 2019, DP&TS entered into a deal with electric scooter operator Spin to begin providing scooters to reduce traffic and gasoline use for people traveling around campus. The scooters provide a fast, electric way to get across campus and reduce congestion on many small roads.

In the future, DP&TS hopes to use renewable natural gas to power its bus system. Because methane can be converted into CNG, and farm animals like pigs and cows are heavy producers, they can power buses, creating a fully renewable transportation ecosystem. As a land-grant university, OSU has access to many farm animals, but it is also possible to use landfills as a fuel source for CNG.

“OSU students have a lot to look forward to regarding transportation and sustainability,” Spradling said. “We will keep pushing to implement more efficient and eco-friendly transportation, and we are always looking forward to new technological ideas.”

Story By: Zach Kluver | zach.kluver@okstate.edu