FUSA’s transportation committee continued to move forward this week, with the concerns of faculty, beach residents and underclassmen joining the discussion.’ ‘
Dr. Dina Franceschi of the economics department and Kyle Robinson ’09, president of the Student Beach Resident Association, attended the meeting, which focused on addressing the pressing need for an on and off-campus safe-ride program.’ ‘
Joyce Dos Santos, vice president of the 2012 class council, was at hand to field the concerns of her class’ members, which will be the first to return to campus as sophomores without their cars next year.’ ‘
Mary Crowley ’09, chair of the transportation committee, said FUSA will continue to draw on students with and without cars, along with faculty and staff, to survey as many ‘target groups’ as possible in analyzing the issue.’ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘We hope to incorporate more voices into our committee because it helps us understand the situation from all angles,’ she said.’ ‘
The system under consideration centers on providing around-the-clock transporation options.’ A daytime shuttle would carry beach residents to and from campus and residential students to their off-campus destinations; an evening shuttle would serve as a safe-ride program, providing students with an alternative to the notoriously unreliable Fairfield Cab Company even after the Stag Bus is retired for the night.’ ‘
The needs of students who regularly commute via Metro North- particularly those with internships in Manhattan or Stamford- are being carefully considered by the committee. The addition of smaller vans carrying a maximum of about 15 people at any one time is being considered, and would allow for an ‘on demand’ type service to be offered.’ Faculty members would also be able to make use of the system, Crowley said.‘
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Crowley stressed that the logistics of the safe ride program are ‘far from set,’ and that the implementation of more off-campus transportation will take time and effort to complete.’ ‘ ‘
‘We realize the immediacy of this issue, and we want to get things established as soon as we can,’ she said.’ ‘However, that being said, it is going to take some extensive planning, especially if we want to create a
successful program that students will use both during the day and also duringthe evening.” ‘ ‘ ‘
Crowley said the committee hopes to establish a timeframe for the project this week.’
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