Spring Break
Students need easy parking over a pretty campus
Katie Bushey
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: Commentary
Change is inevitable, and there is no better example of this than UConn. With over $5 billion given to the university to make improvements, students here are used to witnessing buildings go up and come down, get face lifts or boast new amenities. Despite all of the renovations done here on campus, some students are left wondering what the administration was thinking when they decided on certain changes.
There are some improvements students welcome and even praise. For instance, the new quad by the Student Union was a wonderful addition to our campus. However, other improvements, or the lack thereof, are less appreciated by the student body - namely parking and driving on campus.
The university made the leap to add the Orange line shuttle bus this year, but they need to expand the apartment shuttle bus routes. For the lucky students who were not unceremoniously kicked off campus by the housing lottery, apartment shuttles are of no concern. To those who must battle their way into campus by car every morning, the lack of shuttle buses is worse than a rainy Spring Weekend.
Yes, there is already an apartment shuttle. As of right now, the shuttle stops at Carriage, Celeron, Hunting Lodge, Holinko Estates, Clubhouse and Northwood apartments and the Depot Campus. Janet Freniere, director of transportation services for the university, said that there are two buses that make stops every 15 minutes.
Until recently, these stops were adequate to accommodate the number of students who needed transportation in and out of the university. With the recent shortage of housing - that has no respite in the near future - these limited stops are simply not cutting it anymore.
For example, many students wonder why the buses cannot stop at Renwood, Cedar Ridge or Willington Oaks apartments. Freniere warned that students should not expect additional apartment stops. Adding more stops, she said, is simply not possible.
"It's time consuming and cost prohibitive," said Freniere. "One of the things that I point out to people is that the bus stops at the complexes on Hunting Lodge Road because they just happen to be between the main campus and the depot campus."
There are some improvements students welcome and even praise. For instance, the new quad by the Student Union was a wonderful addition to our campus. However, other improvements, or the lack thereof, are less appreciated by the student body - namely parking and driving on campus.
The university made the leap to add the Orange line shuttle bus this year, but they need to expand the apartment shuttle bus routes. For the lucky students who were not unceremoniously kicked off campus by the housing lottery, apartment shuttles are of no concern. To those who must battle their way into campus by car every morning, the lack of shuttle buses is worse than a rainy Spring Weekend.
Yes, there is already an apartment shuttle. As of right now, the shuttle stops at Carriage, Celeron, Hunting Lodge, Holinko Estates, Clubhouse and Northwood apartments and the Depot Campus. Janet Freniere, director of transportation services for the university, said that there are two buses that make stops every 15 minutes.
Until recently, these stops were adequate to accommodate the number of students who needed transportation in and out of the university. With the recent shortage of housing - that has no respite in the near future - these limited stops are simply not cutting it anymore.
For example, many students wonder why the buses cannot stop at Renwood, Cedar Ridge or Willington Oaks apartments. Freniere warned that students should not expect additional apartment stops. Adding more stops, she said, is simply not possible.
"It's time consuming and cost prohibitive," said Freniere. "One of the things that I point out to people is that the bus stops at the complexes on Hunting Lodge Road because they just happen to be between the main campus and the depot campus."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Off-campus Student
posted 9/29/08 @ 8:38 AM EST
As an off-campus student I can empathize with the author's arguments - I commute from Coventry every day and battle to find parking as well... Actually I really don't have any trouble finding it at all - every morning I park in F-lot and go to work and then at mid-day walk to my grad office near Horsebarn Hill. (Continued…)
The Word
posted 9/29/08 @ 10:24 AM EST
Trust me, there is parking, you just have to find it. F-Lot is always an option and W-Lot
S. TAYLOR
posted 9/29/08 @ 12:03 PM EST
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE REGARDING THE VERY REAL NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM CAMPUS FOR STUDENTS. RIDESHARING AND BICYCLING IS NOT ALWAYS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE WITH LATE NIGHT CLASSES AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. (Continued…)
Craig
posted 9/29/08 @ 2:45 PM EST
I have no issue with everyone saying that we need more routes for the off-campus population. I understand it would be difficult and cost prohibitive, but at the end of the day the off-campus student populations are still students and still deserve more off campus routes or more buses. (Continued…)
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