In recent years American University has undergone extensive planning for expansion and growth. In 2011, AU adopted a new campus master plan, which proposed 1,000,000 SF of new academic space and 500 beds on its present campus, primarily through redeveloping most of a 900+ space parking lot. They hired Nelson\Nygaard to provide a state of the art TDM plan that works for their needs without adverse effects to their neighbors.
To grow responsibly, AU is committed to sustainable practices on campus, and has signed on to the “American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment,” which targets emissions reductions from campus activity. New development and additional students and faculty will increase campus-based transportation demand, including parking. To mitigate these impacts, AU hired Nelson\Nygaard to develop its first comprehensive TDM Plan to reduce congestion and parking demand as it grows.
As a follow-up to the TDM Study, American University hired Nelson\Nygaard to evaluate the University’s shuttle system and develop shuttle service recommendations that would allow AU students, faculty, and staff to move quickly, safely, comfortably, and economically between main campus, the Tenleytown-AU Metro station, the Spring Valley Building, and off-campus residential and commercial destinations. Nelson\Nygaard provided cost-neutral recommendations for improvements to the shuttle routes. Recommendations also included consolidating low-ridership bus stops as well as improving amenities at existing stops to enhance the experience of existing riders and potentially attract new riders.