CSI Is Recognized for Easing Commutes of Students
and Staff
Staten Island Advance - Friday, June 27, 2008
A new shuttle service, a fleet of electric cars, extended bus
service and bike facilities scored top honors for the College of
Staten Island at the Regional Commuter Choice Awards, presented
yesterday in Manhattan's Whitehall Ferry Terminal.
The Willowbrook college netted both the New York City Department of
Transportation's prestigious Leadership Award and an Innovator Award
for its strides in easing commutes for its staff and students.
The annual awards ceremony, held by the city and state DOTs, New
York Metropolitan Transportation Council, Metropolitan Mobility
Network and CommuterLink, recognizes businesses and institutions
that make significant contributions to the environment by offering
commuter benefit programs.
Finance professor and transportation expert Dr. Jonathan Peters, and
Dr. Mike Kress, vice president for technology systems at the
college, accepted the award on its behalf.
"It's nice to be recognized for the work we've been doing, trying to
bring new ideas and help the community," Peters said. "We take it
from the laboratory and get it out into the community and help
people have a better day going to and from work."
Students have widely embraced the shuttle service, which runs
between the campus and the St. George Ferry Terminal, shaving about
20 minutes off a one-way trip on the bus. In addition, research
being done at the college has helped experts better understand some
of the problems facing Staten Island in terms of traffic and transit
options, and has helped the MTA agree to expand bus service along
the S93 route, which brings Brooklyn students to and from school.
"Receiving this distinguished award would not be possible without
the hard work and dedicated vision of our faculty and staff," said
Dr. Tomas Morales, CSI president. "And we are proud of Jon Peters,
Tom Tyburczy, and interim Provost Mike Kress for helping make this
extraordinary achievement possible."
Staten Island University Hospital won an honorable mention for its
encouragement of carpooling and transit use among its employees, as
well as the availability of bike racks and on-site showers and
lockers, for cyclists to get ready for the workday. SIUH also offers
free valet parking service for carpools of three or more employees,
an option used by 66 staffers.
"I think it's great that the businesses are taking these steps to
reduce congestion," said John Galgano, CEO of CommuterLink, an
organization that arranges carpools for commuters traveling in
similar directions.
By Maura Yates
Reprinted here with permission
from the
