In mid-August Logistics, Transportation & Parking announced major safety changes for the campus bus system in support of the public-health informed fall semester.  The changes, resulting from extensive collaboration with College of Engineering and public health experts, included a significant overhaul of the campus bus network that will launch on Monday, August 24.

The goal is to meet campus travel needs and peak demand, while also ensuring passenger safety. Key elements included:

• Reducing travel times to approximately 15 minutes or less for most trips
• Reducing passenger capacity by about half (seated only)
• Requiring face coverings and other safety measures like opening windows to increase airflow

To bring the engineers’ models to reality, LTP’s team worked tirelessly over the last couple of months redesigning the entire system of routes to more of a hub and spoke system. The effort also included all new signage (at stops and on buses) and added safety measures for riders and drivers.

Along the way, the team received invaluable assistance from F&O colleagues in Operational Support and Architecture, Engineering and Construction. From naming the new routes to designing the route guide and website updates, it has been a true team effort.

Business & Finance colleagues are also stepping up and volunteering as Transit Ambassadors, placed at key bus stops helping riders feel confident and safe riding the bus. 

According to Bill McAllister, “The last couple of months have been a whirlwind of activity planning for the fall semester. It’s been truly amazing to see the campus-wide collaborative effort in making this all possible.”