AQMD - FAQ
The South Coast Air Quality Management District, or AQMD, is the regulatory agency responsible for air quality in Southern California. AQMD enforces Rule 2202, which requires large employers to develop programs to reduce commute-related air pollution and vehicle miles traveled (VMT). As an employer of more than 250 employees, CSULB is mandated by state law to calculate and report our average vehicle ridership or AVR each year along with other data to the AQMD to remain in compliance with these laws.
The way our university calculates AVR is with an annual commute survey. This survey is emailed to CSULB employees including student assistants during the fall semester of each year.
General Information
The Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR) Survey measures how employees commute to campus during peak morning hours (6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.). It is used to determine the campus’s average vehicle ridership rate, which supports air quality improvement efforts and compliance with AQMD Rule 2202.
Yes! Under state law as a large employer, the campus is required to conduct the AVR survey annually.
RideMatch is the platform through which this survey is conducted.
RideMatch is also a public carpool service offered by LA Metro. If you are interested in a CSULB-specific carpool matching service, or other alternative transportation options to our campus, please try the campus-specific commuter app, BeachGO.
No. RideMatch is an optional public service offered through LA Metro and the opt-in selection is not required to complete the survey.
If you are interested in finding carpool partners or other similar services, please visit BeachGO for our campus-specific commuter app.
Nonrespondents are counted as driving alone every day, which inflates the campus’ AVR score and GHG emissions estimate. Typically, any response is much better than a nonresponse.
Additionally, we are required to have a 60% response rate or higher or we have to conduct the survey a second time. You are part of that required 60% and by not taking the 3-minute survey, you are contributing to the additional work, hours, and fines that the university may experience if we do not reach 60%.
The survey also supports sustainability goals, and ensures accurate reporting of commute patterns, which can positively transform campus transportation planning and employee programs.
Privacy
Your information is confidential and will only be used for calculating AVR rates and compliance reporting.
Personal data will not be shared or used for any purpose beyond the scope of the AVR Survey.
Filling out the Survey
No! You do not need to share your exact address, you can choose to use your cross streets, zip code, and city instead.
Your CSULB ID number is the same as your employee ID number.
If you do not know your CSULB ID number, please contact your ASM, Staff Human Resource, or the Parking and Transportation Services Office.
Report the mode used for the majority of your commute distance each day during the week of the survey (i.e., Bus).
Noncommuting = Employees who stay at the worksite or are out of AQMD’s jurisdiction for at least 24 hours, and thus, do not commute to work. Examples include firefighters, police, overnight staff, or those with a worksite located at a very long distance.
Telecommute = Employees who work remotely from home, at a satellite office, or a telecommuting center within the AQMD’s jurisdiction.
You are much more likely to be a telecommuter than you are a noncommuter.
If you did not work as scheduled during the survey week, then select the appropriate option such as “sick leave (AA),” “vacation (BB),” or if it is your regular day off, select “regular day off (CC).”
For leave, jury duty, or regular day off, select the “CC” option which covers all these instances.
Only include trips if you are employed by the campus and scheduled to work during the survey week.
Purely academic activities for students are not reported.
