24-hour bus among new routes

By: SHANESSA FAKOUR

Posted: 8/18/08

For the first time, the University's Campus Transit will provide the service of a 24-hour bus route - the Overnight Route.

In addition, three Milledge Avenue buses will be available until 10 p.m. weekdays rather than the previous service cutoff time of 7 p.m., said Ron Hamlin, Campus Transit manager.

The 24-hour bus route was an initiative campus transit had been discussing for a year, Hamlin said, in support of the other 24-hour services available on campus such as the Student Learning Center and Snelling Dining Commons. Hamlin credits the Student Government Association for completing the initiative.

Students' safety was one important reason for extending the Milledge Avenue bus route to 10 p.m., SGA President Connor McCarthy said.

Given the events on college campuses in the past year and the meeting times of most clubs and organizations occurring after 7 p.m., students can appreciate having a safe ride back to campus at night or to the roughly 42 apartment complexes located on Milledge Avenue, McCarthy said.

"Everyone seems excited about it," Hamlin said. "I've received calls from parents and students over the summer and during orientation asking about it. Let's see if that translates into riders."

The 24-hour bus route begins today, running weekdays from Monday at 6 a.m. until Saturday at 1 a.m. Weekend service is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.