In planning the Ecovillage, our goal is to create a sustainable community that does not rely on the automobile as the primary means of transportation. Based on a wealth of information from around the country, our transportation planners have developed a comprehensive program that promotes walking, bicycling and transit to create a livable mixed-use community.
Angwin already has the highest walk-to-work share in the entire Bay Area. By building upon the existing mix of uses, strong connections with Pacific Union College and a shared vision to mitigate all environmental impacts, the sustainable transportation program for the Ecovillage represents a long-term commitment to retaining Angwin’s semi-rural character while improving its livability.
The Ecovillage incorporates “smart growth” principles of mixed uses, compact development, parking management best practices and alternative transportation features.The transportation program is for use by the Ecovillage, Pacific Union College, St. Helena Hospital and the entire community of Angwin.
Campus and Employee Parking Cash-Out
PUC students, faculty and employees as well as Village Square employees may be offered a “cash-out” value if they choose not to park, which can go towards the cost of other means of transportation, such as car-sharing fees, a bicycle purchase, or inter-city bus tickets.
Shuttle/Circulator Service
A high-frequency all-day shuttle service is proposed between a new “transit center” stop on Howell Mountain Road and St. Helena, with a stop at the St. Helena Hospital (whose Angwin-based employees may be offered cash incentives to ride the shuttle instead of driving).
Park Once District
The new Ecovillage and PUC will implement a “Park Once” policy, where all parking is made available to other users when not needed by its principal users; and easy walking access between all uses will eliminate the need to drive and park more than once a day, reducing auto trips and activating pedestrian spaces.
Unbundled Residential Parking
Instead of hiding the cost of parking in the purchase price of a new home, many of the ecovillage residences will separate, or “unbundle”, the cost of parking from the cost of housing, and charge a fee to lease or purchase additional parking rights. Charging separately for parking is an effective strategy to encourage households to own fewer cars, and rely more on walking, cycling and transit.
Safe Pedestrian Environment
A walkable environment not only gives people more transportation choices, it also improves quality of life. The Ecovillage’s well-designed network of streets and pedestrian ways is key to increasing the current walking rates. Connection will also be made to Howell Mountain Elementary School.
Bicycle Facilities
The Ecovillage proposes to provide extensive bicycle paths/routes; easy-to-use bike racks on the new shuttle buses so riders can get to and from St. Helena easily; secure indoor bicycle parking in each residence and at each business; short-term bicycle racks; commuter changing rooms with showers and lockers; and a shared free bicycle loan program on the PUC campus.
Shared Electric Vehicles and Carsharing
Several shared electric cars for local trips and shared automobiles (possibly through a car-sharing service) for longer trips will be based throughout the Ecovillage. In residential settings, each shared car frees up almost 10 parking spaces, requiring less conventional parking surface.
Regional Ridematching Service
Drive-alone trips should be substantially reduced by organizing a ridematching service to help motorists identify potential driving companions. Ridematching encompasses both carpooling and vanpooling.
Transportation Resource Center
The ecovillage and PUC will share a Transportation Resource Center (TRC) headed by a designated Mobility Coordinator, who will serve as a facility-wide concierge providing personalized information on transit routes and schedules, ridesharing information, bicycle routes and facilities, and other transportation options available to residents, employees, students and guests.
Universal Transit Passes
PUC and the Ecovillage homeowners association will absorb most, if not all, of the costs for a universal transit pass on the VINE system for all members of the campus and all eco-village residents and employees. The pass will allow unlimited rides on VINE services, which are easily accessed via the new shuttle service.
Monitoring Success
PUC and the Ecovillage homeowners’ association will commit to a detailed performance monitoring program of annual counts and surveys to ensure that the trip generation and parking demand assumptions for the Ecovillage are met or exceeded during build-out and for at least 10 years after completion of the Ecovillage. The program includes a Mobility Coordinator to administer counts and reporting, set parking prices, develop additional TDM measures or initiate new sustainable transportation infrastructure.