High demand for Snow Bowl shuttle

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For students at a school that has its own ski facility, the massive popularity of a shuttle service to the slopes should come as no surprise. Established in October 2004, the shuttle, which runs from Middlebury College to the Snow Bowl has already gained so much support from the Middlebury campus that plans to scale down operation from seven days per week to four days per week have been abandoned.

In a press release issued by shuttle service provider Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) on Feb. 1, it was announced that the decision to expand February service resulted from January ridership, which is said to have "leapfrogged past all [ACTR] expectations."

"We've seen more people using the service than we expected," explained ACTR Executive Director Jim Moulton. "We also got a lot of phone calls and emails saying 'we want seven days per week service' in February."

"I know I've been grateful for the shuttle," says Middlebury senior Rev Avasarala. "I don't normally make it to the Snow Bowl in February," she adds, "but now that there is going to be a daily shuttle, maybe this year will be different."

Due to such interest, the January protocol of daily service will continue until Feb. 27. As usual, the shuttle is free of cost and can be caught at Adirondack Circle. Hours of operation, including pick-up times, are posted at Adirondack Circle and at various locations throughout campus. Schedules can also be obtained online at ACTR's Web site, www.actr-vt.org.

The shuttle will not end when ski season does, although March service is expected to downsize to four days a week. From Thursday through Sunday, however, "anyone who wants to go hiking, biking, visit (Middlebury's) Breadloaf, or anything like that" can hop on a shuttle bus and head down Route 125 where several hiking trails begin, explained Moulton.

"I've never been a fan of cold weather," laughed Middlebury senior Emily Berlanstein, "but with the Spring shuttle service, I can take advantage of all that Vermont has to offer."