With all the discussion recently about the Union CDTA bus service, it is time to revisit a related idea—the RPI shuttle.
We fully support the idea of a full-time, dedicated, intracampus shuttle. Since the Ride-in-Safety Escort shuttle system fell into disarray, RPI has sorely needed a transportation system of its own. Obviously, this would add to the safety of our campus, most notably for students who must work late into the night on the academic campus and then travel to their assigned parking area, walk home, or walk to the nearest bus terminal. The recent assaults on campus only further highlight this need. Such a shuttle system would also make remote parking more convenient—if shuttles stopped fairly often at the lots around the Field House, for example, commuters would not park illegally closer to their classes.
It is our hope to see a system run by a professional bus company—CDTA would be the likely choice—to ensure that shuttles will run on a much more frequent and regular schedule than the old RISE system did. The lack of a threshold number of shuttles, as well as required service, killed the RISE system and would surely kill a new system before it even got off the ground. At the absolute worst, no person should have to wait more than 15 minutes at a stop to board a shuttle; anything longer than that and the individual might as well have walked to where they were going. Even more frequent stops would be preferable. Obviously, this would require multiple shuttles running intra-campus routes at the same time.
Such shuttle stops must include the Union bus terminal (assuming it’s still there), the Commons, BARH, the Wyck and Field House lots, the Mueller Center and Armory area, North Lot, the Hassan Quad, the Library and VCC area or the Science Center, and the parking lot behind the DCC, CII, and JEC. Other possibilities include the major clusters of fraternity houses, Old School 14, Barton Hall, Ricketts and the ‘87 Gym, the EMPAC building (once it is completed), the West parking lot nestled between Walker, Pittsburgh, and West Hall, and various major street corners to the north and south of campus near the denser off-campus apartment areas.
Implementing a campus shuttle system effectively requires a threshold number of stops, and a true reform of campus culture. Between the growing parking problem and the impending construction, there has never been a better time than now. A well-implemented system will cure many ills on this campus, and provide a safer, better alternative to parking and walking.
