New shuttles to speed up routes
Students can expect a more efficient ride on the Aggie shuttle this year, thanks to a $150,000 grant.
New funding from the Utah Department of Energy’s Clean City program will keep the shuttle buses running faster and longer this year.
The money will be used to purchase two buses, a new fueling system and tools, said Alden Erickson, supervisor of bus
operations.
The new buses are expected to be running on routes by the end of September. This should alleviate the traffic on the early morning routes, Erickson said.
Buses will leave their routes less often to fuel with the new fueling system. All the buses are also being updated from the older diesel models and changed to a more environmentally friendly bus. The tools purchased should keep the buses in better condition and make for a quicker process when repairs are needed.
Routes have changed this year for the safety of students and for a more efficient ride, Erickson said. The south campus bus no longer runs through the stadium lot, but does stop by the bull sculpture across the road from the stadium.
“The route used to take 20 to 25 minutes and students complained that it was too long and they never knew when the bus would be coming,” Erickson said. “This year the route is shorter and does not stop through the stadium.”
The campus loop route has changed directions once again this year. The route that used to run through Aggie Village and then the Student Living Center now runs from SLC to Aggie Village.
“I watched the shuttle have to turn across traffic too long. It seemed too unsafe to me,” Erickson said.
The innovations route has become a permanent route this year and students can expect a shuttle every twenty minutes.
“I don’t really care when the bus is full. I just wish it would come more often,” said Nate Raush, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering.
Many students say they wished the route hadn’t changed directions because they think the buses get full too quickly.
“I live in the townhouses and by the time the bus comes, it is full,” said Ali Hunter, a junior majoring in family and consumer science. “I just wish they would get more buses.”
Students are encouraged to try to get to the bus as early as they can, in order to make it to their classes on time, Erickson said. There shouldn’t be a wait longer then 10 minutes during the day and 20 minutes on the evening shuttle, Erickson said.
The Aggie shuttle is one of the cheapest shuttle systems in the nation, Erickson said, with only $8.50 of student fees going to the shuttles. Two years ago, fifty cents was added to the fee and since then five new buses were added to the fleet.
“The Aggie shuttle is still the best way to get to campus,” Erickson said. “We hope to have the new buses up and running by the end of September to provide a more efficient ride to campus for students this year.”
– Dibert@cc.usu.edu