TravelSmart
Support our goal to increase sustainable transportation to and from campus.
What is TravelSmart?
The TravelSmart program promotes active transportation which includes biking, carpooling, taking the bus and walking. All colleagues, faculty and students affiliated with UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and Clarkson College who primarily work or study at the 42nd & Dewey and MMI campuses are welcome to participate.
As a TravelSmart participant, you have access to the following:
- Carpool passes.
- Free Omaha Metro bus rides and access to improved bus stops around campus.
- Free indoor bike parking and access to lockers and shower facilities.
- Opportunity to cancel or keep your current parking permit.
- $4 daily-rate flexible parking for the days you travel to campus by yourself in a vehicle.
The TravelSmart Program aims to:
- Provide staff and students with cost-effective options for traveling to and from campus.
- Promote active and healthier modes of travel.
- Reduce parking pressure and traffic congestion on campus.
- Reduce vehicle emissions and pollution around campus.
- Have 35% or more of students and staff regularly travel to and from the 42nd & Dewey campus using active transportation.
Why is TravelSmart important?
At the med center, we believe it is important to support commuters coming to work in a way other than driving alone in a car. Sustainable transportation has environmental and health benefits such as reducing harmful pollutants in the air and helping participants move more. We have an active commuting goal as a part of our 2030 sustainability master plan goals: for 35% of employees to commute to campus in a way other than alone in a car.
Learn more about the different modes of TravelSmart transportation:
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign up is free, your ID badge acts as your free Metro Bus pass.
Yes. As a registered TravelSmart participant, all program benefits are available to you. If you currently use or plan on using more than one active transportation mode, please make sure to mark the preferred modes when you register for the program.
If you’ve already registered for the program, and you would like to start using a different or additional active transportation mode, please call 402-559-9907, ext. 3, or email TravelSmart so we can update your profile.
TravelSmart is a volunteer program. You are not required to bike, bus, carpool or walk a specific number of times. However, we strongly encourage you to use active transportation to travel to and from campus.
You can keep or obtain a parking pass while participating in TravelSmart. Be aware that during the program registration process, you will be presented with the option to keep or cancel your parking permit.
Carpool participants are now required to pay for their assigned parking lots. Carpool partners must pay for the lots they are assigned to use.
Parking assignments are based on space availability, rank and start date. If you don't have a parking permit, visit Parking Services to obtain one.
We strongly discourage the idea of repeatedly canceling or requesting a parking permit. If you plan to only use active transportation during certain seasons, we encourage you to sign up for the TravelSmart program but keep your parking permit and continue paying the regular parking fee.
You can use active transportation (biking, walking, or riding the bus) on days when you do not need your personal vehicle. On days when you need to drive, you may park in any designated daily-rate flex parking area if you do not have a parking permit.
Find available flex parking locations.
Payment can be made through the Park Omaha app, available on your smartphone. Simply sign in, enter the zone code listed on the parking map, and complete your payment. Each payment is valid for up to 20 hours.)
We recommend you use the maps and route information on Metro’s website. It will always display the most updated information and you can look at a system map and maps of individual routes.
If you have any problems or questions about Metro's maps and website, contact Metro's customer service, 402-341-0800.
Shuttle users are able to download the app “TransLoc” from either the Google Play (android devices) or the Apple App Store on their personal mobile device.
When users open the app for the first time, they should choose “UNMC Shuttle.” They then will be able to see the shuttle routes and how far away a shuttle is to their stop via GPS tracking. Users also can track the shuttle online on its route without downloading the app. To learn more, visit the TransLoc app website.
For questions or concerns about the shuttle, call 402-559-3223 or email Fleetops.
A Chargepoint station with two stalls is available in Lot 21 by the entrance to the middle level of the Lauritzen Outpatient Center. The stalls are available to employees, students and the public.
The station will charge personal electric vehicles faster than a standard outlet, with a full charge possible in four hours or less. The rate to charge is 50 cents for up to four hours daily. After four hours, the rate is $3 per hour.
These stalls are for active charging parking only. After charging, the vehicle must be moved to allow other users to access. Using a charging stall for longer than four hours may result in a violation.
Track Our Progress
See how our team is meeting our sustainability goals.