College, ACTR sponsor Saturday shuttle

Author: Katie Flagg

Saturday marked the kick-off for a new Saturday bus service linking Middlebury and Burlington, an initiative co-sponsored by Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR), the Middlebury College Student Government Association (SGA) and the College's Office of the Treasurer. While SGA and ACTR have expressed hopes that this service will provide greater access to Burlington for Middlebury students and community members, the success of the route remains to be seen.

According to SGA President Eli Berman '07.5, four or five students accessed the new service this Saturday at the tail end of the College's spring break, when much of the student body was away from campus. A clearer picture of the route's popularity among students will be available in the weeks following this break, though Berman indicated that initial feedback has been "100 percent positive" from the students with whom he has spoken.

Prior to supporting this service, the SGA conducted a survey of the student body to judge students' interest in the Saturday shuttle. The survey generated over 700 responses from students, and overwhelming, students indicated that the service would be utilized, according to Berman.

In addition to recognizing student interest, the College has applauded the new service for its increased accessibility and its environmental benefits. "If one person takes the bus and doesn't drive, that's providing a benefit and helping the environment," said Berman.

Currently the SGA is paying $2,000 until the end of the year for the shuttle service, regardless of how many students use the new route. The College has also committed to funding the shuttle program through the summer. In addition to obtaining funding from the College directly, ACTR is currently receiving federal funding because of its partnership with the College. Through a local match program funding by a non-profit grant, the government is currently covering 80 percent of ACTR's operating costs.

Unlike its local services, the ACTR Burlington bus charges passengers a $3 one-way fare - due in large part to the route's reliance on the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA). The CCTA's LINK Express was initiated in October 2004, offering a weekday route for commuters. According to ACTR Executive Director Jim Moulton, the new ACTR route is "an extension of the weekday LINK Express service," which similarly charges a $3 fare.

Moulton also acknowledged in the ACTR's press release that since the inception of the CCTA route, the service "generated numerous requests from the community for ACTR to begin Saturday service." Furthermore, interest increased, according to Moulton, after Vermont Transit Lines discontinued their Route 7 corridor service last fall.

The Saturday schedule will consist of two round trips between Middlebury and Burlington. Buses will leave Middlebury College at 9:55 a.m. and 3:55 p.m., while return trips will leave Cherry Street in Burlington at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The bus will also serve New Haven Junction, Vergennes, Ferrisburgh and other communities along the Route 7 corridor.