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User:Metallurgist/Rutgers bus

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Rutgers Campus Buses
An LX Bus on College Avenue preparing to turn left onto Hamilton Street
ParentRutgers University
HeadquartersNew Brunswick, New Jersey
Service areaNew Brunswick, Piscataway
Routes11 (weekdays); 2 (weekends)
Destinations4
Fleet50
Daily ridership70,000 (daily); 6 million (annually)
Fuel typebiodiesel
OperatorAcademy Bus
DirectorJack Molenaar
WebsiteCampus Buses

Rutgers Campus Buses is the shuttle service used by students at Rutgers – New Brunswick to get around the different campuses. It is the second-largest bus service in New Jersey, after NJ Transit. Service is provided by Academy Bus all year round, including weekends and holidays. When the campus transit system is not in service, a smaller point-to-point shuttle called the "Knight Mover" is provided for the students.

History

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Rutgers began to install new bus shelters in the summer of 2010. The new shelters incorporate red roofs to cast a red tone on the sidewalk, showcasing university colors. So far, only one shelter has been installed at the Rutgers Student Center bus stop.[1]

Director Jack Molenaar announced that the L route would be discontinued due to budget cuts, effective 28 August 2010. Molenaar called the bus a "relic" and said it was "slowest and most underutilized" of the bus routes.[2] There was significant opposition to the move, especially from graduate students and Highland Park residents who had already made housing arrangements expecting the bus to be there. After 600 people signed an online petition calling for its reinstitution,[3][4] a temporary LXc route was created for the 2010-11 school year, stopping at Cedar Lane every 30 minutes.[5] A second bus was later added to shorten wait times to 15 minutes. In addition, the three weekend buses (A, EE, L) were reorganized into two all campus loop buses (1 and 2).

After the Academy Bus contract expires in June 2011, First Transit will provide bus service.[6] The main reason cited for the switch is cost. First Transit will refurbish existing buses and supply new ones for a total of 50 buses that use 20% biodiesel and feature automatic stop announcements, whereas now drivers may or may not announce stops.[7][8]

Routes

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There are 11 routes on weekdays and 2 routes on weekends and holidays.

Weekdays

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  • A - College Avenue / Busch (Clockwise on Busch)
  • B - Busch / Livingston
  • C - Busch commuter loop
  • EE - College Avenue / Douglass / Cook via George Street
  • F - College Avenue / Douglass / Cook via Route 18
  • H - Busch / College Avenue (Counter-clockwise on Busch)
  • LX - College Avenue / Livingston
  • LXc - College Avenue / Livingston (Returns to College Ave via Cedar Lane in Highland Park, and River Road)
  • REXB - Busch / Douglass
  • REXL - Busch / Livingston
  • New BrunsQuick Shuttle - (Ward Shuttle)

Weekends and Holidays

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  • Weekend 1 - College Ave / Busch / Livingston / Douglass / Cook
  • Weekend 2 - College Avenue / Douglass / Cook / Livingston / Busch

Equipment

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With the new First Transit contract, Rutgers will get new 40-foot buses and the existing New Flyers will be refurbished.[7]

Alternative plans

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Several times over the past decade, it has been suggested that the bus system be partially or fully replaced with bus rapid transit, monorail, or light rail.[9][10] However, such plans have never materialized and the addition of the New Jersey Route 18 expressway has made it unnecessary. Closing College Avenue to non-bus traffic was also proposed, but indefinitely canceled in February 2010, due to excessive costs.[11]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rutgers University unveils transit shelter prototype". Metro Magazine. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  2. ^ Kypers, Neil P. (20 August 2010). "Campus bus route changes to increase service". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Save the L Bus". Facebook. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Save the L Bus". Wordpress. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  5. ^ Roache, Colleen (6 September 2010). "New LXc bus route frustrates students". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Rutgers selects First Transit as bus operator". Metro Magazine. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  7. ^ a b Roache, Colleen (5 November 2010). "University to lower costs with new bus company". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  8. ^ Stokes, Timothy (2 November 2010). "First Transit Named Campus Bus Service Operator for Rutgers University". First Transit. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  9. ^ Godfrey, Greg J. M. (29 September 2001). "Say goodbye to the future". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  10. ^ Murphy, Austin (22 November 2002). "Light railway, busway no help". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  11. ^ Roache, Colleen (17 February 2010). "U. trims back plans for greening project". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
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