Construction forces Aggie Shuttle to reroute

To increase student safety and reduce traffic near the Taggart Student Center, the roundabout on the west side of the building is being redesigned. Construction is not expected to be completed until next week and, as a result, three Aggie Shuttle buses have been rerouted.

The Stadium Express, 800 East Express and the South Campus Express have been affected. In place of the usual drop-off and pick-up near the TSC, the three routes will stop on the corner of 700 N. and 800 East, near the meters on the west side of the street.

The Stadium Express and the 800 East Express are being detoured to 600 East.

The Campus Loop route has not been altered.

Alden Erickson, Aggie Shuttle supervisor, said the shuttle system is working to remain on schedule and maintain its convenience to students despite the changes.

“We will do our best to stay on the same schedule, but we’ll be delayed a bit. Students are going to have to walk a little more,” Erickson said. “We are going to do what we have to do and we are going to do our best to accommodate our passengers’ needs.”

The Aggie Shuttle will return to its normal routes once construction is finished.

Joe Izatt, assistant director of Parking and Transportation Services, said student safety was the primary reason behind redesigning the congested roundabout.

“We’ve tried to help create a better traffic flow,” Izatt said. “It is going to be nice when it is done. I hope it creates a space where buses and vehicles can coexist and be safer for students. That is the driving force behind this.”

As part of the redesign, the planter area has been split to create two roundabouts. Curbing in the area was also removed to create a larger space for vehicles.

Stanley Kane, director of Facilities Planning, came up with the concept.

He said this design will ease traffic and create a pedestrian zone between the TSC and the Institute, where students can walk without being put in danger.

The north roundabout is for private vehicles.

The south roundabout is restricted to buses, delivery and emergency vehicles only. It will have a gated entrance.

After construction is completed, the Aggie Shuttle will still stop in front of the Alpha Chi Omega house. Buses will then also stop inside the electronically operated gate.

Once inside the gate, delivery vehicles will be directed to the dock area behind the Military Science building where they will unload, rather than stopping near the student entrance to the TSC.

Kane said these changes were made in response to the number of people and vehicles the new Student Living Center brought to the area.

“This is a traffic control system to separate cars from pedestrians,” he said. “This is an upgrade in safety.”

The construction, which Kane said began the week of May 7, was supposed to be finished before the first day of school. However, due to unforeseen conditions, he said its completion has been delayed by one week.

Kane said project development was hindered by a surprise discovery of utility lines and modifications to the sewer system. He said the proper time to cure cement must also be allowed. Even though the last concrete was poured Friday, it must dry for a week to be able to support the weight of heavy buses.

Darrell Hart, associate vice president of Facilities, said production was also slowed because of a labor shortage.

“The construction market is pretty hot and labor is hard to get,” Hart said.

He also said it is a challenge to guarantee an exact completion date because of the many variables involved in construction.

“Construction isn’t a science,” Hart said. “Sometimes it takes longer than you thought it might, sometimes it is shorter.”

-arie.k@aggiemail.usu.edu