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Update - 11/1/2019

Stanford has withdrawn its long-term land use permit application and will focus on deepening engagement with local communities. Read the statement.

Transportation

Marguerite Shuttle on Palm Drive
Transportation

Stanford is planning for our future, without increasing the number of vehicles coming to campus.

Stanford’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program, which includes initiatives designed to reduce the number of single occupancy drivers to and from campus, has been highly successful and decreased the drive-alone rate of Stanford commuters.

View transportation technical reports

View Stanford's commute patterns

Stanford commuters who drive alone has dropped from 69% in 2003 to 43% in 2017

Keeping cars off the road

Over the past 17 years, traffic to and from campus has remained consistent. In the graphs below, traffic totals include both Stanford commuters and vehicles crossing campus headed elsewhere.

Total trips to and from campus each day has remained relatively consistent since 2004

Increasing academic space without more traffic

While Stanford is increasing its academic facilities and enrolling more students, the number of vehicles coming to the campus has remained consistent under the 2000 General Use Permit.
Since 2004, the number of cars trips to and from campus each hour has been consistent, including during the summer

Preventing increased traffic throughout the day

During the 2000 General Use Permit, the number of vehicles entering and leaving campus during peak commute hours has remained consistent and there is no significant increase in vehicle trips outside of the peak commute hours.

Partnering with the community

Palo Alto Caltrain southbound platform with people and a train

Caltrain Business Plan development

Stanford is assisting Caltrain with developing a business plan to improve the reliability, capacity, and financial stability of regional rail service.
Learn more about the partnership with Caltrain
Woman rides bike down street.

Bikeway improvements

Stanford proposes to fund four bikeway improvements in neighboring communities to encourage more commuters out of their cars and onto their bikes.
Download Stanford Bicycle Commuter Access Study
Man places bike on Marguerite Shuttle rack

Contributing to regional bike access

Stanford is a member of the Managers Mobility Partnership group that is working together to address transportation challenges and improve bicycle infrastructure in the region.
Learn more about the Managers Mobility Partnership

The next generation of TDM

To continue to prevent new vehicle traffic from coming to or leaving campus, Stanford is exploring future Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies that are outlined in the Stanford Transportation Strategy Booklet.

Energized and invigorated

"Cycling to and from work leaves me feeling both energized and invigorated. Like all forms of exercise, you think it will TAKE more energy than you have to give, but the inverse is true—you are left with MORE energy and confidence than you would ever believe possible before you begin."

~ Kevin Lortie, Plumber/Steamfitter, R&DE Student Housing

Get tips and maps for biking at Stanford

Two happy people riding bikes on a tree-lined Palo Alto street
Man walking bike next to Caltrain

Stanford's Commute Club, an incentive program for sustainable commuting, now has over 10,000 members.

Learn more about the Commute Club

Get the details

Learn more about the proposed General Use Permit and view reports on transportation efforts at Stanford.

View all General Use Permit and transportation-related resources