Published: May 15, 2007 09:24 pm         

Campus shuttle bus service coming to Indiana State this fall

TERRE HAUTE — Sometime this fall, Indiana State University students are expected to have a campus shuttle bus service provided by the Terre Haute Transit Utility.

On Tuesday, ISU trustees passed a new $15 per semester transportation fee that would be assessed to students enrolled in six or more credit hours.

ISU and the city are still developing a contract, Gregg Floyd, ISU vice president for business affairs, said last week. “The university essentially will be purchasing those services from the city on behalf of the students,” he said.

The student-driven initiative would benefit students in terms of parking and fuel costs and it should help relieve congestion on campus.

The city bus service would benefit from the increased ridership, which in turn would mean increased state funding, said Brad Miller, director of the Terre Haute Transit Utility.

A proposed contract is being reviewed by ISU, Miller said. Once that contract is hammered out, the city Board of Works will have to approve it.

At that point, he believes it would take at least 3 to 31⁄2 months to make the proposal reality. “It will require hiring 11 employees and revamping routes. That can’t be done overnight,” Miller said.

He hopes the campus shuttle and extended routes could begin around September.

As originally proposed, ISU Campus Shuttle Route would run through campus and stop at several locations from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The proposal also calls for three modified, extended city bus routes that would run 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

The modified routes would go north to Plaza North; south on Seventh Street to Honey Creek Mall and Wal-Mart; and an east Wabash Avenue route that goes through downtown. The entire community would benefit from the extended hours, Miller has said.

The campus shuttle and extended bus service was a collaborative effort between the city and ISU Student Government Association and endorsed through a student referendum, Floyd said. Students, rather than the ISU administration, initiated it.

ISU students and faculty would have unlimited rides once they present a student or faculty identification.

The campus shuttle would begin and end at the city bus transfer center, giving students and faculty the opportunity to connect with other city routes.

In last December’s referendum, a total of 1,737 ISU students voted, with 1,253 — or 72 percent — voting in favor.

ISU had an enrollment of 10,568 students last fall.

Among other benefits, those late night routes would provide “safe transport for students from their favorite watering holes back to the transfer center,” according to a proposal for the expanded service.

The student fees would cover about half the expanded service, Miller has said. About half the cost would be picked up by the federal government.



Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.

     

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