Aggie Shuttle plans to add new route in February
The Aggie Shuttle will add a new route to its current schedule Feb. 5 to help accommodate more students.
The new route, named the 8th East Express, will have two buses and will run on 800 East from west of the Taggart Student Center to the Agricultural Systems Technology and Education building on 1400 North, sharing stops with the Logan Transit District buses.
The 8th East Express will pick up residents from Oakridge, Stadium West Villa and Old Farm before returning to the TSC.
“The 8th East Express will save students from jaywalking 800 East,” said Alden Erickson, assistant director of Parking and Transportation.
Since there will be an extra route and therefore more buses, students need to make sure to use the right routes and board the right buses.
“Buses will be plainly marked,” Erickson said.
Utah State University’s Aggie Shuttle is the second largest shuttle system for a Utah university. Only the University of Utah has a larger system.
Five of USU’s 10 buses are new since 1998. The five newest buses run on natural gas.
“Until 1998, we had buses that were older than the student body,” Erickson said.
Currently, Erickson is doing a ridership count to determine how many people are serviced by the shuttle.
The count last semester showed a daily average of 7,200 riders, or about 36,000 riders weekly.
“It seems like we’ve had more ridership this semester,” said Wayne Hubbard, who is in his fourth year as an Aggie Shuttle driver. Hubbard, who drives the Stadium Express route, is driving the busiest of all the routes, Erickson said. Peak hours are from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
“Last semester, some students complained about having to wait and being skipped by filled buses,” Hubbard said.
An extra bus was added at 8 a.m. to help alleviate the load of students.
Four buses run the Stadium Express route, three run the Campus Loop, and two run the Housing Express.
With the implementation of the new 8th East Express, the Stadium Express will drop down to having three buses until 10:30 a.m. Two buses will continue after that. The Campus Loop will drop to having two buses that will run all day.
“That new route should be nice for Old Farm,” said Tom Allred, a resident of Oakridge. “I really like the Shuttle. We have the first stop both ways so we can always sit down. Plus it’s a great way to pick up chicks.”
“Whenever we walk up, it seems to just be pulling up for us,” said Nate Cook, a resident of Oakridge.
“I think it’s nice, especially when it’s this cold,” said Terra Larsen, a junior who has been taking the Aggie Shuttle since Fall Semester.
Erickson welcomes any questions or comments and invites all to park off campus and ride the shuttle.
“Students pay $3 a semester for the Shuttle service. It’s the best deal on campus,” Erickson said.
Erickson can be reached at 797-3470.