UC Irvine’s Transportation and Distribution Services is taking a holistic approach to transportation, weaving environmental stewardship and local partnerships into each endeavor.

The department operates with the guiding principle that its work is “more than just two white lines and the asphalt in between,” says executive director Ron Fleming. It’s about fostering sustainability, innovation and community connection.

Serving campus year-round

Committed to “keeping UCI moving,” Transportation and Distribution Services and its 160 staff and student employees oversee year-round management of parking operations and enforcement, as well as traffic direction. They are also dedicated to building infrastructure that supports safe travel for the UC Irvine community by installing and operating campus traffic signals and intersections, as well as maintaining roads and parking facilities.

Moreover, for thousands of people who come to the university for events like commencement ceremonies, homecoming or Celebrate UCI, the department works to ensure safe and efficient access, managing motorist and pedestrian direction.

Transportation and Distribution Services supports external events as well, such as local school graduations, the annual Children’s Water Education Festival and the Los Angeles Rams training camps, providing traffic planning, permit distribution, road closures and mobility resources to create positive experiences for all who travel to campus.

“We’re always looking to improve upon our [ability] to fulfill the diverse needs of everyone visiting UC Irvine,” says Julianna Bayley, director of parking and ancillary services. “[Our] team aligns the responsibility of getting people where they need to be with the implementation of commuter programs that reduce traffic and minimize carbon emissions.”

A greener future

Operating in all facets of transportation and maintaining long-standing partnerships with local transit authorities have been instrumental in the department’s strides toward reducing UC Irvine’s environmental footprint. Campus affiliates have access to a wide variety of sustainable commuting options, such as carpooling platforms and subsidized transportation programs, including a 20 percent rebate for long-term Metrolink and Amtrak train passes and discounted OC Bus passes.

Transportation and Distribution Services also hosts annual, on-campus bike festivals – uciRIDEtoberfest each October and WhimCycle in May – to promote car alternatives. Open to all UC Irvine affiliates, these events model micromobility education and safety within a celebratory environment, enabling participants to be fitted for helmets, learn how to secure their bikes onto UC Irvine’s all-electric buses and more. In addition, each festival incorporates the reCycle program, which donates and sells repurposed bikes to the campus and local community.

“It’s an engaging learning experience for visitors,” Bayley says. “These festivals allow us to drive interest and introduce participants to a whole network of transportation that can sometimes be intimidating to navigate alone.”

By instituting and promoting alternative transportation programs for the community, the department is leading the way as a steward of sustainability. As a result, 80 percent of commuters at UC Irvine are now choosing sustainable commuting options, paving the way for a greener future.

Transportation and Distribution Services has received various awards for its sustainability efforts and transit programs: Race to Excellence Gold Awards, STARS Platinum Sustainability Ratings, Green Fleet Awards and more. The department has also been honored by the National Parking Association for Innovative Sustainability Project of the Year and is behind UC Irvine’s certification by the League of American Bicyclists as a platinum-level Bicycle Friendly University.

The accolades, Bayley says, reflect the office’s commitment to the community as well as the participation of faculty, staff and students in Transportation and Distribution Services’ operations. “We’ve been able to grow with the campus, building and maintaining a department that’s fiscally solvent while providing the necessary services for our community,” she says.

Building community

Making an even greater impact, the department regularly partners with campus and outside agencies to host outreach programs. These campaigns foster engagement between UC Irvine and the wider Orange County community, further cultivating strong, long-standing relationships.

Established in 2009 by Fleming, Transportation and Distribution Services’ annual Clash of the Cans food drive has collected over 20,000 pounds of food and $12,850 in monetary donations for the Orange County Food Bank and UC Irvine’s Basic Needs Center.

Additionally, in collaboration with local nonprofits such as the Community Action Partnership of Orange County, the department hosts an annual book drive, gathering new and used books to improve literacy within the community, as well as a “Backpack Give-Back” campaign, garnering backpacks and school supplies for local students.

For its continued dedication to the Orange County community, the department has received the Spirit of Volunteerism Award multiple years in a row from OneOC, a nonprofit that empowers others to make a lasting impact in Orange County.

A more innovative tomorrow

Looking to the future, UC Irvine’s Transportation and Distribution Services is continually searching for new and innovative solutions to bring advanced services to the campus and local community alike.

“We hope to continue providing integrated, effective and low-cost transportation resources for the UCI community and see the broader community embracing options to visit UCI and take part in all the wonderful work, research, athletics and art here on campus,” Bayley says.