Students push for free bus transportation to and from campus
By Brielle Domings, Staff Writer
University of Vermont and Champlain College students get free public bus transportation, but St. Michael’s students pay $1.25 one-way.
Since the beginning of the school year, the Student Association has been working on free public transportation for St. Michael’s students, said Tyler Adkins, secretary of student life.
“It’s been an issue for many years for students who don’t have cars or who want to get around easier,” he said.
The idea was proposed by former Secretary of Academics Michelle Kayser. Since then, the S.A. created a public transportation focus group to work on the issue, Adkins said.
The top reasons for establishing free public transportation is for convenience, student safety, and environmental benefits, Adkins said.
Green-Up SMC is supporting the S.A.’s efforts to provide free transportation, Green-Up member Tara Hostnik said. Free transportation will encourage more students to ride the bus and help reduce emissions, she said.
Champlain College and UVM students use their student I.D. cards instead of paying. The money comes out of a budget the college has set aside, Adkins said.
“These schools are right in downtown Burlington and they have a system,” Adkins said. “It makes even more sense for St. Michael’s to have it, since we don’t live as close.”
It is unclear where the funding for free bus transportation will come from. It’s the S.A.’s job to find someone to allocate the money, he said.
This week the S.A. will start a survey to find out how students feel about free public transportation, Adkins said.
A panel discussion was held earlier this semester, but only one person attended, Adkins said. Despite poor attendance, he received feedback via e-mail.
“I don’t think it was an issue of interest,” Adkins said. “I think it was an issue of conflicts coming up at the end.”
If students don’t have a car, they feel like they can’t get off campus, sophomore Brandi Guthrie said. Free public transportation would allow students to go where they wanted.
Guthrie has a car on campus but works downtown. Parking can get expensive in the garages, she said.
Sophomore Kasey Carroll said its hard to have exact change to ride the bus.
“I use the bus anyways but I feel like I’d go on it more if it was free,” she said. “I’d ride it all day!”
For more fees and schedule of the CCTA buses click here
Contact Brielle Domings at bdomings@smcvt.edu
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