Internal Shuttle System Called 'Saving Grace'

When North Dakota State University opened its doors this fall, a new on-campus shuttle service and Metro Area Transit Bison Gold Route were available to students.

Campus Police Chief and Security Officer Tim Lee said the campus shuttle was a "saving grace" the first days of school when one parking lot wasn't open. Students responded well, he said, to free transport on campus. One day, the ridership was 287.

Jill Hough, associate research fellow with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, worked with students, NDSU staff members and Metropolitan Area Transit personnel to help design Route 13 and the on-campus circulator shuttle.

Michael Simonson, Fargo Transit planner with whom Hough worked, calls the initial usage quite impressive. Monitoring the numbers the first two weeks of school showed ridership of 5,300 students in the circulator. He said expanding the route looks likely. He also said the route is the most extensively used in the entire transit system. While ridership on Gold Route 20 is light during the day, evening use indicates there might be an expansion of the schedule to encourage and to accommodate students.

The campus circulator, according to Hough, stops every 10 minutes so students have quick and easy access across the campus. The circulator runs from 7:20 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. school days helping the students who traverse the land-grant institution. The main body of the campus is from 12th Street to 18th Street and 12th Avenue to 19th Avenue.

Gold Route 20 is NDSU's connection to work, shopping, food and entertainment and runs from 6:15-10 p.m. weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays. For students who need the bus for employment, the bus is a real benefit. NDSU pays the city for the service. Students are issued an identification card to ride all MAT routes.

The new transportation system is a hit with students, according to Student Government President Jonas Peterson. The system was a student government campaign issue and an idea students liked. "Once the snow flies, students will really grab the buses," he said, adding, "I'm pleased with the service. It's part of what makes us a great institution."