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September 22, 2003
Bus riders urged to ‘do the Loop'
Vanpool openings, parking changes announced
Shuttle bus riders wanting to get from one side of campus to the other
quickly will have a new option soon: the “Loop.”
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| UCSC provides the vans, vehicle
maintenance, and fuel for the vanpool program. Photo:
Louise Donahue |
Beginning with the start of classes on Thursday, Transportation and
Parking Services (TAPS)
will launch a Perimeter Loop shuttle service. The shuttle will bypass
the Bay Tree Bookstore layover and run in part outside the campus proper,
along Empire Grade and High Street.
“These shuttles will keep moving so that our riders may do the
same,” said Wes Scott, TAPS director. “We are asking campus
affiliates to ‘Do the Loop’ and then let us know what they
think of the service. We welcome your feedback at taps@cats.ucsc.edu.”
Remaining shuttle service will stay essentially the same as last year,
with frequent pick-ups in both directions. Schedules are posted at all
campus bus stops and are available on shuttles and at transportation
information holders on campus.
Extensive Metro
bus service, including Metro Night Owl service, also will be about the
same as last year.
Vanpool numbers increasing
Another effort to ease traffic and parking congestion, the vanpool
program, is being expanded this year beyond the 14 vehicles now in operation.
UCSC provides the vans, vehicle maintenance, and fuel for this program.
A graveyard, swing, and an additional daytime shift vanpool have recently
formed in Watsonville, and a number of routes have room for new passengers.
“It’s a great way to cut down on parking costs as well as
commute costs,” said TAPS vanpool coordinator Cathy Crowe. “There
are currently over 170 participants who find that vanpooling to UCSC
is their best commute option. I encourage staff and faculty to contact
me to see if vanpooling will work for them."
Vanpools offer the cheapest way, other than bicycles and transit, of
commuting to campus. With eight vanpools in operation, Watsonville is
the most popular vanpool destination. Vanpool drivers ride for free
in exchange for driving and handling some administrative details. Passengers
pay $19.50 to $25.75 a month to participate, and faculty, staff and
graduate student passengers receive 50 scratch-off parking permits per
year for days on which they must use their own vehicle. Taxi service
home is available to vanpool riders in case of emergency.
Efforts to expand the vanpool program to include additional routes
from San Lorenzo Valley and Watsonville have begun. Those interested
in joining a vanpool or finding out more about the program should call
459-2607 or email cacrowe@ucsc.edu
Parking enforcement hours extended
Beginning this fall, parking enforcement hours for Performing Arts
Lot 126 have been extended to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Permits
will also be required to park in this lot on Saturday and Sunday between
the hours of 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Campus affiliates holding a valid
“A” or “B” permit may park in this lot at any time.
Guests and visitors to the Performing Arts area who wish to park in
Lot 126 during the hours of 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. will need to purchase
a $2 permit from one of the two “Pay and Display” machines
now located in the lot. These machines accept coins, bills and credit
cards, with change dispensed as $1 coins.
The change is being made so that those attending arts events—who
sometimes had to use remote lots or shuttles--will have a place to park.
“We’re just trying to provide better access for event patrons,”
said Scott.
Free parking remains available in the Core West Parking Structure and
in Hahn Lot 101 after 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and all day on
weekends. Also, North Perimeter Lot 150 will once again be available
to those with remote permits.
Traffic signal planned for Hagar/Coolidge intersection
The traffic signal near the main entrance to campus, operating since
May, will be joined by another, at the Hagar/Coolidge intersection.
TAPS has received a second grant to fund the new signal, scheduled for
placement this winter.
“This traffic signal will make the Hagar/Coolidge intersection
safer for everyone involved,” said Scott, who noted that the response
to the traffic signal finished in May has been “overwhelmingly
positive.”
Coolidge Drive is a county road until it becomes McLaughlin Drive.
The traffic signals are funded through federal safety grants administered
by Caltrans.
TAPS also handles bicycle licensing and disability van service.
• Bike licenses. UCSC traffic regulations require that
bicycles operated on campus be licensed. TAPS provides current California
bike licenses or renewal stickers for $3. Bike licensing fees support
UCSC bike programs. Bike licenses may be obtained at the main entrance
kiosk or at the OPERS bike Maintenance Drop-In Clinic. Cyclists must
bring their bikes with them to obtain licenses. For more information,
call 831-459-2607.
• Disability van service. This service provides on-campus
wheelchair lift equipped transportation for students with temporary
and permanent mobility impairments. Current medical documentation is
required. The service operates from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday,
7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on
Friday. To schedule rides after normal service hours, reservations must
be made by calling (831) 459-2829 at least one day in advance. Reservations
must be made between one and seven days prior to the scheduled ride,
and must be received by 5 p.m. of the day prior to the ride. Reservations
for rides on Friday night between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. must be made before
5 p.m. on Thursday evening. Saturday night rides between 6 p.m. and
1 a.m., and Sunday night rides between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. will be available
if reserved before 5 p.m. on Friday. After-hour rides will not be available
if a reservation has not been made.
Additional information on TAPS projects is available online
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