Transportation

Transportation

Cornell encourages all staff, faculty, and students to commute to campus, travel for business, and move around campus using alternative transportation methods that reduce the use of fossil fuels. The University supports sustainable commuting by offering discounted membership fees for local car-sharing, free and discounted public transportation options, and by subsidizing our regional bus transportation system.

Take Action on Campus

  • • Walk, bike, take the bus, or carpool to move around campus 
    • Rideshare for a free or reduced parking pass
    • Free bus trips for all employees make riding the bus easy
    • Ride the bus for free anytime your first year and on weekends and after 6 p.m. during subsequent years
    • Current Campus Work: Cornell is exploring solar canopies and electric vehicle charging infrastructure opportunities with internal staff and facilities initiatives

Sustainable Cornell Transportation Initiatives

Cornell values sustainable options for students and staff to maneuver around the hilly campus and explore Ithaca's natural beauty. See what we offer to make transportation sustainable and affordable.


 

 

 

Cornell Benefits: Ride the Bus
 

Employees Ride Free

  • Employees ride the bus free.  All Cornell staff, including temporary employees, affiliates, and retirees, can use their Cornell ID card to ride anywhere TCAT goes, any time TCAT runs — free. 

  • This unlimited ride privilege allows employees more flexibility in planning their commute and can help reduce the number of vehicles on campus.  

  • Faculty/staff spouse/partners with a CU ID card receive unlimited rides on TCAT night routes 90, 92, and 93.

Student Discounts

  • Bus fare is free for the first year for all new students — just use your Cornell ID card. 

  • After the first year, all Cornell students receive free, unlimited rides on all TCAT buses after 6 p.m. on weekdays, and anytime Saturday and Sunday. 

  • Students can purchase discounted bus passes and OmniRide privileges at myparking.cornell.edu.  

  • Continuing education students and student spouse/partners with a CU ID card receive unlimited rides on TCAT night routes 90, 92, and 93.

Participate in Campus Programs

Use alternative transportation—such as walking, biking, riding the bus, and carpooling—or remote work and flexible work schedules to reduce your carbon footprint.  Cornell provides several perks and benefits to campus community members to encourage sustainable transportation.

Quick Facts about Cornell Transportation Sustainability

  • First-year students ride the TCAT bus for free with their Cornell ID cards. All Cornell students ride the bus for free on weekends and after 6 p.m. on weekdays. For year-round transportation, students may also buy a bus pass at discounted rates.     
  • The Cornell Cooperative Extension set up a transportation information program, Way2Go, to advise individuals in the community on alternative transportation solutions, particularly for those with mobility issues.                                                               
  • Ithaca CarShare provides all Cornell students and employees with free or discounted memberships.
  • All TCAT buses are equipped with bike racks for local residents who choose to bike around campus but struggle with the hilly landscape.  
  • Eligible Cornell employees can share their commute and receive free or discounted parking permits if they carpool to work at least three times per week. This employee carpool program cuts costs for staff and faculty on parking, fuel, and CarShare membership fees. 
  • A team of Cornell App Development students created a transit tracking app for Apple users to enhance ease of public transportation around the Ithaca area.                 

Local, Regional & Partnerships

What's happening in our community around sustainable transportation? Learn about national and local initiatives Cornell participates in, and opportunities to be connected off-campus.