CHARGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND DEAN OF THE FACULTY TO THE AD-HOC
FACULTY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILTY AND TRANSPORTATION AND
PARKING NEEDS


We ask that this committee advise Cornell's administration as the
University strives to achieve the proper balance between environmental
sustainability and Ihe University's need for transportion alternatives
and parking. The committee should be alert to historical. cultural,
social, financial, ecological. and technical concers. Among subjects
for the committee to consider are forward-thinking steps to abate
parking demand from students. faculty and staff; creative steps to
find alternatives to single occupant commuting, including improved
transit access; appropriate areas and sites for future parking lots,
and proper design of parking lots to protect the environment as much
as possible. In addition, the committee should review the issues that
led to opposition to the University Avenue parking lot.

The committee should take into account Cornell's plan to provide all
new students (freshmen, transfers, professional, and graduate
students) who do not purchase parking permits a free transit pass
beginning in the fall of 2005.  While Cornell and the Town of Ithaca
jointly conduct the new Generic Environmental Impact Study, the
University will examine closely the idea of providing free passes for
all students who do not purchase parking permits.  The GEIS will
examine the impacts on transportation of a number of possible growth
scenarios at Cornell, and will recommend creative means of mitigating
those impacts.  The faculty committee's own recommendations are
independent of the GEIS, but will be considered by the GEIS.

In addition, the committee should be aware that Cornell will ask the
Student Assembly and the Graduate and professional Student Assembly to
conduct a non-binding referendum during the academic year 2005-06 to
assess student attitudes toward parking and transportation, including
but not limited to, a potential ban on cars for freshmen and
sophomores; use of an incentive-driven parking plan to limit demand;
and appropriate amounts to charge students for parking.

The committee should deliver its final report to the President and
Dean of the Faculty by May, 2006.