2008 Woodie Awards
Plans for shuttle bus dismantled
Kate Augusto
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: News
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This time last year, university officials and student representatives were finalizing plans for an all-night student shuttle bus that would stop at Ruggles station, Landmark Center and Brigham Circle. Money was budgeted for the shuttle and the university approved it, but now, almost a year later, there is no word of a shuttle.
"A lot of prominent community activists on Mission Hill … expressed their concern and distaste with the program," said Student Government Association (SGA) President Joey Fiore. "In their minds it was shuttling drunk kids up to Mission Hill and [community members] were … upset with the partying situation [as it was] and they saw the shuttle as something that was going to add to the problem."
Fiore also said that with the recent arrests of 10 students, the likelihood of changing the minds of permanent residents is unlikely.
Ed Klotzbier, vice president of student affairs, said the shuttle program was designed to be a safe mode of transportation for students to get to popular student hang-outs.
"We made it very clear that this would not be a booze bus," Klotzbier said. "There would be no alcohol allowed on the bus, even for students who were 21 … [We talked to OSCCR] about what the rules would be if people got sick on the bus and had all kinds of conversations. It was prepared and we tightened the whole thing up and it was ready to launch."
Jim Ferrier, associate director of public safety, said the route was designed to cover areas where public transportation is not particularly convenient. "If [students] go from here to Landmark Center [many] end up walking home through the Fens … instead of more safely around the Fens or taking the T. [The shuttle] would have been a free and convenient alternative," Ferrier said.
After Student Affairs, SGA and public safety had finalized their plans for this service last year, they needed only to wait for city approval, said Jeff Doggett, director of government relations and community affairs. Doggett, however, found from several meetings with community members that they were not supportive of this particular solution to student transportation needs.
"A lot of prominent community activists on Mission Hill … expressed their concern and distaste with the program," said Student Government Association (SGA) President Joey Fiore. "In their minds it was shuttling drunk kids up to Mission Hill and [community members] were … upset with the partying situation [as it was] and they saw the shuttle as something that was going to add to the problem."
Fiore also said that with the recent arrests of 10 students, the likelihood of changing the minds of permanent residents is unlikely.
Ed Klotzbier, vice president of student affairs, said the shuttle program was designed to be a safe mode of transportation for students to get to popular student hang-outs.
"We made it very clear that this would not be a booze bus," Klotzbier said. "There would be no alcohol allowed on the bus, even for students who were 21 … [We talked to OSCCR] about what the rules would be if people got sick on the bus and had all kinds of conversations. It was prepared and we tightened the whole thing up and it was ready to launch."
Jim Ferrier, associate director of public safety, said the route was designed to cover areas where public transportation is not particularly convenient. "If [students] go from here to Landmark Center [many] end up walking home through the Fens … instead of more safely around the Fens or taking the T. [The shuttle] would have been a free and convenient alternative," Ferrier said.
After Student Affairs, SGA and public safety had finalized their plans for this service last year, they needed only to wait for city approval, said Jeff Doggett, director of government relations and community affairs. Doggett, however, found from several meetings with community members that they were not supportive of this particular solution to student transportation needs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Pete
posted 9/27/07 @ 9:50 AM EST
This is so irritating. It is just a shuttle bus. I was really looking forward to using this after the story last year and was starting to wonder what ever happened with it. (Continued…)
KWS
posted 9/27/07 @ 11:06 AM EST
As an alumna and a parent of a current NU student, I disagree w Mr. Ferrier's statement that a shuttle is not needed "because we are in the city". That is precisely why a shuttle is necessary. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 9/27/07 @ 12:01 PM EST
In cities like Detroit, poor members of the community are phoning in fake ambulance calls just so that they can get a free ride across the city because in states like Michigan, lack of transportation is one of the leading factors of poverty. (Continued…)
jay
posted 9/27/07 @ 2:20 PM EST
Is there ever a point when the perminent residence dont fight us?? seriously. This seems like a good program. while it will mostlikily have tons of semi drunk kids on it, but why is that a bad thing. (Continued…)
Ray
posted 9/27/07 @ 10:29 PM EST
Increased traffic? from what... 2 extra cars??? Northeastern is actually trying to help us out. Many students do not live on campus because its so expensive, so this would have been great. (Continued…)
Matthew Soleyn
posted 9/28/07 @ 11:00 AM EST
Perhaps a compromise would be a more public shuttle service that Northeastern could run. Instead of only having NU students, we could open the service to the community members who may need transportation after the T stops running, but don't want to pay for a taxi or do not own a car. (Continued…)
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