What’s happening: On February 10th, 2025, key decisions were made regarding Bloomsburg campus Shuttle Bus services, including bus replacements, hand grip installations, and results of a ridership study.
Why it matters: The shuttle bus services have a direct impact on the day-to-day experiences of students living on Upper Campus, as well as faculty and staff who rely on the shuttle service for transportation across campus. The replacement of old buses ensures the continued safety and reliability of the service, while the installation of new hand grips improves accessibility for all riders.
The background: The University’s shuttle service is a vital part of campus life, providing transportation for students, faculty, and staff. The service operates a fleet of buses that run on various routes throughout the campus and the surrounding areas. The decisions made will have a significant impact on the future of the shuttle service.
Rest of the story:
Two buses will have the installation of handgrips. These will accommodate people standing up on the buses to allow for increased capacity and accessibility.
Data was collected over a month-long period from November 9, 2024, to December 12, 2024, to determine the number of bus riders at each hour, as well as over each day for the campus loop shuttle. The data revealed an increase in the number of students using the shuttle service between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, when classes are held. To accommodate this growth, the university plans to add additional buses during these times to reduce waiting times and overcrowding. The study also led to a change in weekend run times, now operating from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., which better aligns with student usage patterns. The Voice was given daily data on shuttle bus usage. November 26th through November 30th were omitted due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Stacy Wagner, Chief Facilities & Safety Officer, noted, “There is [sic] 2 million dollars in the transportation budget. Yet, she mentioned that “buses are getting old and should be replaced eventually. Facilities try to replace a bus once every 5 years. New buses will cost over $300,000.00.”
A persistent issue for student athletes is that early practice starts before the first buses start to run. Students pile in one car at a time and get dropped off near Scranton Commons for breakfast. It was questioned whether we could run a small shuttle in the morning just for athletes. The university doesn’t have small shuttles, and the athletics department only possesses vans. It was decided that Athletics would have to address this issue for their athletes. While the narrowness of Second Street prevents the addition of a bus stop near Commons, other solutions will be explored for transporting athletes to early practices.
These updates and changes are expected to greatly improve the overall efficiency and user experience of the Bloomsburg campus Shuttle Bus service, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of the university community.
