Transportation

The percentage of Stanford employees and commuting students who drive alone to the main campus has dropped from 67% in 2003 to 41% in 2020.

Stanford Transportation provides sustainable transportation and parking options for the main campus and Stanford Redwood City. Stanford Transportation seeks to reduce transportation-related emissions and pollution, as well as traffic-related impacts on land use and our neighboring communities.

In 2002, Stanford expanded its Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program, which has some of the most extensive reduction strategies in the country. The program was developed to meet peak-trip reduction goals outlined in the 2000 General Use Permit issued by the County of Santa Clara, which governs campus growth and development. In addition to reducing peak-hour trips, Stanford’s TDM program aims to reduce university-related traffic emissions, congestion, and parking demand. Thanks to its program, Stanford has met and plans to continue to meet the "No Net New Peak-Hour Commute Trips" standard. 

Visit the Stanford Transportationwebsite for more information about the transportation programs and services.

Free Shuttle

The Marguerite shuttle provides free transit for the Stanford community and the public, utilizing a fleet that includes electric and hybrid diesel-electric buses. In 2019, Marguerite ridership was over 2.74 million, with Stanford's free shuttle taking riders to campus locations, regional transit systems, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, and local shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations.

Cleaner Vehicles

Stanford's Marguerite fleet includes 41 all-electric buses. Other efforts to operate a cleaner fleet include replacing larger buses on midday routes with smaller, more fuel-efficient buses and offering hybrid vehicles in the car-sharing program. As of 2020, 50% of Stanford’s 1,112 fleet vehicles are electric, with an ever-increasing number of hybrid options.

Commuter Incentives

Eligible employees and students who commuted to campus in 2019 by means other than driving alone could earn cash payments through the Stanford Commute Club. Clean Air Cash for Commute Club members was available for eligible commuting students, staff, and faculty to offset transit, bicycle, vanpool, or other expenses, but was not limited to commute expenses. Employees who commuted by carpool or vanpool received free parking passes and reserved spaces. In 2019, Stanford also offered prize drawings for Commute Club members. The Commute Club was suspended in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting work-from-home order.

Student Incentives for Electric Vehicles

There are a number of incentives available to individuals who are interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, primarily offered through the California Air Resources Board's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. In addition, Peninsula Clean Energy offers a Used EV Rebate Program and a $200 rebate on EV rentals, and PG&E offers a Clean Fuel Rebate for eligible residential customers.

Eligible graduate and undergraduate students who live on campus and are looking to purchase a car can take advantage of PG&E's Clean Fuel Rebate using Stanford's account. To receive a rebate, after purchasing an electric vehicle students must fill out an application through PG&E. After completing the application, students will need to go through the following steps to complete the process:

1. Email cleanfuelrebate@stanford.edu to request the account number information to include on the application.
2. Upon receiving the account information, submit the incentive application to PG&E.
3. After receiving notice that PG&E has issued the check, forward the confirmation email to cleanfuelrebate@stanford.edu.

At this point, PG&E will issue the rebate check to Stanford, with no action required by the purchaser. Students will receive the rebate via direct deposit to their account within 10-14 business days from receipt of check.

Free Transit Passes

Eligible commuting employees, off-campus graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars can get free passes for Caltrain. Eligible employees also receive free passes for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus and light rail. Stanford Redwood City employees also qualify for free monthly SamTrans passes. Eligible East Bay employees qualify for the EasyPass, which includes free access to the Dumbarton Express East Bay express bus service and all other AC Transit service. Students, staff, and faculty can ride for free on transbay express bus service on AC Transit’s Line U, a service subsidized by Stanford. 

Transit for the Peninsula and East Bay

Platinum Bike Friendly Campus

Stanford University was recognized by the League of American Bicyclists with a third Platinum Bicycle Friendly University (BFUSM) award. Stanford was the first university to be recognized at the highest level when the program launched in 2011 and is the only university to receive a renewal of its Platinum designation for 2019-2023.

Car Sharing and Ridesharing

Employees and students receive discounted rates on Zipcar car sharing. Stanford has the largest university Zipcar fleet in the nation. Commuters are also able to take advantage of ridesharing opportunities, including Scoop, a ridematching app with flexible scheduling and Stanford-funded rider and driver incentives. Stanford’s Scoop subsidy ended on Dec. 29, 2020.

Clean Transportation Policies

In addition to offering incentives for green commutes to and from campus, Stanford adopts numerous clean transportation policies. Stanford provides alternative transportation information for new employees and new students, and assesses fees on new campus development and parking to help fund sustainable transportation programs. To ensure continued progress, Stanford Transportation has a campus-wide Peak Trip Working Group and several full-time staff dedicated to sustainable transportation assistance, promotion, and peak-hour trip reduction. Stanford Transportation also expanded vehicle charging stations on campus.