A real sustainable transport strategy: integrating operations and facilities planning with academic endeavors and community relevance

The University of Tasmania is the state of Tasmania’s only university and therefore plays a significant role in state and community development. Decisions about the university’s transport facilities and operations impact on organizational and individual costs, social accessibility, and environmental impact, and can have far reaching effects on the community into the future. The University of Tasmania is one of Tasmania’s largest employers and as a growing institution it is a significant trip generator in the state. Here, we share the journey, lessons and outcomes of the University of Tasmania’s first holistic sustainable strategy, the Sustainable Transport Strategy (UTAS STS). We particularly discuss the process of the UTAS STS development, its business case, and the added value the strategy has brought in terms of university and community sustainability. Finally we discuss the community spillover benefits of the UTAS STS, what the development and roll out of the strategy has meant for transport facilities and initiatives that extend beyond our campuses, as well as how we are delivering significant education for sustainability and operational sustainability objectives for the University.