Shuttle use among city residents climbs

More than 100 College Park residents have registered to ride DOTS buses since the program's start date at the beginning of the month, city officials said.

While Department of Transportation Services Director David Allen said only 22 city residents have actually ridden the buses since the program started on Sept. 1. The city of College Park has registered 135 people for bus permits, according to Sara Imhulse, assistant to the city manager.

After two weeks of the new program offering residents free admission on Shuttle-UM buses with a city ID card, DOTS officials said no residents had used the pilot program. However, the past weeks have upped the tally.

Knowing how many city residents are riding the buses is critical for the city to decide whether it should continue the program, which costs $5,000 a semester. If the program is continued, it will cost the city an additional $5,000 for each subsequent semester. If not enough residents decide to use the service, the city council could opt to use the funds elsewhere.

District 4 Councilwoman Mary Cook, who has been one of the program's strongest supporters, is concerned DOTS was not properly logging the number of city residents using Shuttle-UM. Cook said she and at least one other city resident rode the bus during the period when the university reported no city riders.

Cook said she is telling residents to insist that bus drivers call in and report their presence on the bus.

"It's very important to [make sure DOTS accurately records the number of residents], because at the end of this term, we have to have accurate numbers to decide whether it's worth spending the city's money," Cook said.

Allen said the bus drivers have been reminded they need to radio in when a city resident rides the bus so DOTS can keep track of the numbers and inform the city, who can then make an informed decision at the end of the pilot program.

"We are the service provider," Allen said. "We will provide them with their numbers."

Allen said the program is worthwhile because it introduces residents to the university bus system.

"Any time the university and the city can come up with a win-win situation, it's good," Allen said.

Imhulse said she plans on contacting the residents who have signed up for the program via e-mail to get a sample of how many residents are using the buses, just so the council "has an idea."

"I think it needs to be documented," Cook said. "What we need to do now is to get it off to a better start by marketing it better."

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