The University Record, April 30, 1996
Bus route changes combine Commuter, North Commuter runs
Riders can now take the Commuter from North Campus to Crisler Arena without transferring.
Photo by Bob Kalmbach
Two changes in service are in store for the U-M bus system. Beginning May 6 bus riders can take one Commuter bus from Crisler Arena to North Campus without transferring. The Commuter and North Campus Commuter Bus will be combined into one route. The new Commuter bus will service all of the present bus stops, except the Hill dorms.
Riders will be able to ride from the Pierpont Commons on North Campus to the Michigan Union or the athletic cam pus without transferring buses.
The new service will operate every 15 minutes 6:45 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Fri. There will be no bus from Crisler at 8:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:15 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. There will be no bus service from Glazier Way at 8:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m. or 4 p.m.
In past summers there have only been three breaks in the schedule, says Patrick Cunningham, manager at Transportation Services. “In the summer, we have always had three breaks. We may eventually cover some of the new commuter breaks with other buses too, based on feedback from our ridership and demand for our services. This is done by adding a bus at crucial times,” he notes.
In September, service will be increased to once every 10 minutes, which, Cunningham adds, will minimize the time riders must wait between breaks.
North Campus bus riders also will note a change in North Campus service through the summer. The Spring/Summer bus schedule begins May 5.
Bursley/Baits bus services are suspended through the summer and the frequency of the Northwood route is reduced.
The first bus leaves Northwood V at 7 a.m. Mon.–Fri. and runs every 10 minutes until 6:50 p.m. It then runs every 20 minutes until midnight. On weekends, the bus runs every 20 minutes 7 a.m.–12:20 a.m.
Cunningham says that he does not foresee a problem handling the extra riders caused by the Thompson Street parking structure shutdown. “While we have seen our ridership increase over the years due to parking shortages, these in creases have not been extraordinary in any given year.”
But, he adds, “if increased ridership causes our buses to leave people at stops on a regular basis, we are prepared to add buses to the routes.”
For more information, call Transportation Services, 764-3427.
