Fix 50 and UC Davis: The latest information, plus helpful links.

Originally published March 18. Updated at noon March 20: Next week's brown bag on workplace flexibility has been moved to a larger space, Meeting Room D at the Student Community Center. The brown bag is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 27. No preregistration.

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Dateline staff

Managers, supervisors and employees: All of us have Fix 50 homework to do for the U.S. Highway 50 project that will tie up traffic between Sacramento and Davis in May and June.

“Every department should tally how many people will be affected, and then talk about how the department will keep its operations going,” said Nick Crossley, director of Emergency Management and Mission Continuity. “Please put Fix 50 on your staff meeting agenda.”

If you’re an employee who uses U.S. 50 to get to work, you should be thinking about changes to your commute so you can get to work on time during the construction period, May 2 to June 17.

You’ll definitely need to leave earlier, if you’re driving or riding in a carpool or vanpool or bus. Or maybe you’ll want to switch to Amtrak, in which case Transportation and Parking Services, or TAPS, can help you save $18 on 10-ride passes (see the details below).

TAPS also encourages people to consider carpooling or vanpooling, or buses or the intercampus shuttle. “Yes, you’ll still be in traffic, but the more people who use alternate transportation, the fewer cars will be on the road,” said Leslie Mancebo, transprotation demand and marketing coordinator for TAPS.

“And, if you’re going to be stuck in traffic, wouldn’t you rather be a passenger on a bus, or in a carpool or van, so you can rest or work on your mobile device?”

See TAPS’ Fix 50 UC Davis Commuter Guide.

Workplace flexibility

Employees and managers also may want to review information on workplace flexibility: compressed workweeks, flextime and telecommuting. Nonrepresented Professional and Support Staff (PSS) employees are eligible to request such arrangements, while represented employees may participate as allowed by their respective collective bargaining agreements. 

Employees must initiate workplace flexibility requests, and get approval from supervisors and-or unit or department heads.

“Please remember, not all positions are conducive to flexible work arrangements, so it is best to talk with your manager about whether or not this option is best for you,” said Susan Gilbert, associate vice chancellor of Human Resources.

As it so happens, HR’s WorkLife and Wellness unit plans a program next week on workplace flexibility; it was selected as a 2013-14 brown bag topic long before “Fix 50” entered the campus’s vocabulary.

The meeting, “Workplace Flexibility: The Nuts and Bolts,” is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 27; please note that the brown bag has been moved to a larger space, Meeting Room D at the Student Community Center. Everyone’s invited, without preregistration.

Amtrak discount

TAPS normally reserves its $18 Amtrak savings deal for goClub members — who forego parking permits in favor of alternative transportation, including Amtrak, bicycle, bus, carpool, and vanpool.

But, because of Fix 50, TAPS has extended the offer to all faculty, staff and students affected by the project.

Here’s how to get your discount: Fill out this form and return it with $32 to TAPS by April 15. In return you will get a Fix 50 Commuter Check worth $50. Then present your Commuter Check and an extra $5 to Amtrak for your 10-ride pass (regular price $55). More about Fix 50 Commuter Checks.

Sacramento Regional Transit buses and light rail serve the Sacramento Amtrak station, and Unitrans serves the Davis station, via the A Line, running between the depot and the Silo Terminal on campus.

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