2008 Woodie Awards
Shuttle-UM may open to city
Kellie Woodhouse
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News
Shuttle-UM could soon be open to residents of College Park.
After years of debate between students, administrators and state lawmakers, two bills on Shuttle-UM - one in each house - passed through the Maryland General Assembly. The bills would remove a legal technicality that had prevented the university from opening its shuttle buses to the public. Proponents of the plan hope it will bring city dollars to the university and improve public transportation in the area.
"Everybody's for it. The university is for it. The city is for it," said State Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's), the bills' sponsor. "It's good for everybody because it helps the city, the students, and the faculty by getting cars off the road and ... puts additional money toward the whole bus system."
The bills require approval from Gov. Martin O'Malley, but lawmakers said they don't anticipate a veto. With approval, the shuttles could be open to the public by this fall.
Though city and university officials still have to hammer out terms of the final deal, such as the cost of IDs and a possible cap for the number of non-student riders, a 2006 agreement stated the city would pay $5,000 for the first 100 residents who signed up and $50 for each additional resident.
District 2 Councilman Bob Catlin said, however, that they expected new ridership to be minimal.
"People need to use the shuttle probably not too much because we don't have that much development on Route 1," Catlin said. "But if the shuttle is running anyway, it doesn't really cost that much to put a few more faces on it."Student leaders and administrators had months ago reached a consensus about the rules for non-student riders. Riders would have to show ID cards that they can buy for a minimal cost, Catlin said. But provisions in the bills would allow the university to disregard state rules for providing a transportation service to the public, which allow state authorities to exercise control over Shuttle-UM's schedules, routes and other aspects of the program, according to an opinion by State Attorney General Joe Curran.
After years of debate between students, administrators and state lawmakers, two bills on Shuttle-UM - one in each house - passed through the Maryland General Assembly. The bills would remove a legal technicality that had prevented the university from opening its shuttle buses to the public. Proponents of the plan hope it will bring city dollars to the university and improve public transportation in the area.
"Everybody's for it. The university is for it. The city is for it," said State Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's), the bills' sponsor. "It's good for everybody because it helps the city, the students, and the faculty by getting cars off the road and ... puts additional money toward the whole bus system."
The bills require approval from Gov. Martin O'Malley, but lawmakers said they don't anticipate a veto. With approval, the shuttles could be open to the public by this fall.
Though city and university officials still have to hammer out terms of the final deal, such as the cost of IDs and a possible cap for the number of non-student riders, a 2006 agreement stated the city would pay $5,000 for the first 100 residents who signed up and $50 for each additional resident.
District 2 Councilman Bob Catlin said, however, that they expected new ridership to be minimal.
"People need to use the shuttle probably not too much because we don't have that much development on Route 1," Catlin said. "But if the shuttle is running anyway, it doesn't really cost that much to put a few more faces on it."Student leaders and administrators had months ago reached a consensus about the rules for non-student riders. Riders would have to show ID cards that they can buy for a minimal cost, Catlin said. But provisions in the bills would allow the university to disregard state rules for providing a transportation service to the public, which allow state authorities to exercise control over Shuttle-UM's schedules, routes and other aspects of the program, according to an opinion by State Attorney General Joe Curran.
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Sumner Handy
posted 4/09/08 @ 10:54 AM EST
See article referenced here: http://marylandrha.blogspot.com/
impoverished student
posted 4/09/08 @ 11:35 AM EST
I'm a commuter. I pay $3.30/gallon for gas. I pay for a parking permit. I have never used the shuttle, yet am forced to pay for it every semester.
I don't use the shuttle or public transportation because my commute would take 3 1/2 hours each way five days a week (that's 35 hours total, or more if I have to come to campus on an evening or weekend. (Continued…)
Proud Alum
posted 4/09/08 @ 5:17 PM EST
As a reply to impoverished student:
If an unfortunate situation should arise that you are unable to walk around campus, transportation services has paratransit and thats included in your fee. (Continued…)
Anti-Free Riding
posted 4/09/08 @ 6:52 PM EST
(1) In terms of CP residents, would they get an ID saying they are CP residents?
(2) How much input would the city of CP in assisting the expenses included in the shuttle services. (Continued…)
Emily Guskin
posted 4/09/08 @ 11:38 PM EST
I am so glad that this has finally gotten underway! Also, I'm very happy that the RHA has come to the realization that it will not make campus any less safe. (Continued…)
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