Students have expressed mixed opinions about the Mississippi State University’s new shuttle routes, which were introduced along with individual parking zones for commuter students by officials hoping to alleviate parking problems on campus.
The initiative, in conjunction with the demolition and restructuring of Malfunction Junction, is intended to provide a more efficient flow of traffic throughout the outer sections of campus.
The changes to the route include taking Allen, Simrall and the Mitchell Memorial Library off the routes entirely, a change that has been met with harsh criticism by many returning students since the start of classes two weeks ago.
The logic involved in the commuter zoning system is this: if students are restricted to parking in specified zones, the shuttles perform more efficiently from less traffic.
The routes changed due to student needs and the university’s future requirements, transportation coordinator Mike Harris said. “In years past, commuters would drive from class to class, which not only increased traffic but also endangered pedestrian safety.”
What Harris and other school officials could not plan in advance, however, was an exact number of commuters who needed access to key areas around the campus. By the first day of school, both of the commuter west and east zones had been sold out.
Many students expressed a genuine discourse with the new routes.
“Being an engineering major, I have four classes in Simrall. The new routes don’t even stop there anymore,” said Darius Boyce, a senior from Trinidad.
Sophomore communication major Whitney Markham said she likes the promptness of the buses as well as their cleanliness. “Even though it’s crowded a lot when I ride, I’ve never had to worry about sweat-soaked seats. The shuttles are available everywhere I need to go.”
“I’d rather just park close to my class”, music education major Will Chandler said. “It’s a good service, but they [parking services] didn’t give out enough decals. I see dozens of free commuter east spaces all the time.” The music education buildings are located near the east zone.
One student commented that he felt the east side of campus was being completely neglected as a result of the discontinued stops.
Harris says that despite the criticism, the shuttles are obviously being used. “Just last Thursday, more than four thousand students utilized the system.”
He also explained the reason behind the changes to the route. “That section was cut from the route because the number of students riding the shuttles dropped by more than 60 percent after the demolition of several buildings along Hardy Road, including Hamlin Hall. That is how we justify the change.”
Still, it leaves this question unanswered: do more students need those stops now more than last year because of the new parking zone system? The answer from many is a resounding “yes.”
Students who pre-registered online with their vehicle information also expressed dismay. Many thought that the simple act of pre-registering guaranteed them a decal.
The university has already dealt with that problem by giving the affected students a chance to register in the zone of their choice.
President Charles Lee said he has tried to make student mobility around campus more efficient and pedestrian-friendly; however, it may take several years before the university’s goal is reached.
“Students provided a good deal of helpful input regarding parking and shuttle operations, both in the planning phase and in the follow-up assessments. That will be a continuing process, as more construction is planned for next spring and summer,” Dr. Lee said last week.
Ray Hayes, vice president of finance and administration, said the ultimate goal of the parking changes is to allow for student parking around the outer perimeter of campus, which will limit traffic along Mississippi State’s inner road system.
“Our annual operating budget is a little over a quarter-million dollars. We have twelve buses in all, with eight operating simultaneously on any one day. Add maintenance and rising diesel fuel prices, and you have a program that’s almost operating at full capacity,” said Paul Welch, the university’s support services director.
Welch also said his department is working on getting more funding through a transportation grant that should begin this year.
The parking situation is also one of several items that Dr. Lee and the College Board will address in the university’s master plan, which is tentatively scheduled for completion by 2023.
At the time of this writing, one of the shuttle routes had been modified to pass closer to Allen Hall. However, not all of the changes students request are feasible.
“We appreciate all of the e-mails we’ve received,” Welch said. “Constructive criticism is something our department has learned to take well; hopefully, over time, we [support services and students] will be able to reach a more positive resolution.”