Washtenaw Community College to expand shuttle service to ease parking crunch
Washtenaw Community College officials hope to relieve a campus parking crunch by expanding a free shuttle service program.
Parking at Washtenaw Community College can be challenging at the beginning of each semester. The college is expanding a shuttle service in the upcoming winter semester to relieve the crunch.
File Photo | AnnArbor.com
Last school year, WCC began a free shuttle service to and from Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium lot for staff and faculty members. Since then, it's run through the beginning two weeks of each semester, when the parking situation is the worst.
The college is now considering a semester-long deal that would lease a yet undecided number of parking spots from the Rynearson lot from Jan. 11 to May 3. The free shuttle would be extended to students.
Pricing details aren't finalized, but the shuttle service will likely cost WCC just under $100,000, said Steven Hardy, vice president for administration and finance.
WCC President Larry Whitworth said the shuttle service would completely relieve the parking situation, and noted an advertising campaign for faculty, staff and students is under way.
The college has 3,000 parking spots and 14,000 students. About 2,800 students are scheduled for classes at any given time, Whitworth said.
At the beginning of each semester, more students are on campus buying books and taking care of other business, he said.
Although the lot lease hasn't been finalized, the school is contracting with Select Ride for its private shuttle service, Hardy said. Buses would run every 15 minutes on school days between 6:45 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. beginning in January. The two-mile route goes from Rynearson to WCC's Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Huron River Drive stop.
The 10-week contract with Select Ride has a five-week extension option.
The college will see how the program works in the upcoming semester before signing on for future semesters, Hardy said.
The school is also considering contracting with a mobile coffee vendor that would park in the mornings at Rynearson.
A separate option are bus passes WCC offers from AATA, which cost $10 a semester. More than 1,000 were issued this fall, WCC spokeswoman Janet Hawkins said.
Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Marvin Face
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 2:40 p.m.
I agree with dading. While charging for parking at WCC would be a political nightmare, someone is going to have to make the tough call. If there are alternative ways to campus, the only way to increase utilization of those is to make them more financially attractive.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 11:21 a.m.
"...Pricing details aren't finalized, but the shuttle service will likely cost WCC just under $100,000, said Steven Hardy, vice president for administration and finance..." "...WCC also offers AATA bus passes for $10 a semester. More than 1,000 were issued this fall, WCC spokeswoman Janet Hawkins said..." why doesn't wcc charge for ON CAMPUS parking? issue hangtags for $$ to pay for the $100k bus service, then offer the shuttle for FREE. i'd be more leaning to take a free shuttle if it cost me to park. right now, it's free to park and $10 for a shuttle pass? i'll take my chances and be late for class, but i'll park on campus. let's think this over.