The U is starting construction on an electric shuttle to cut through the middle of campus.
Crews have currently blocked off an area from Milton Bennion Hall to the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts and Education complex with fences for the first phase of the project. David Moyes, associate director of commuter services, said the proposed shuttle should be up and running by Fall 2016. It will pick up people arriving at the south campus TRAX stop and take them to the engineering buildings on the north side of the U.
Moyes said this project has “been in the works for years,” but the U received a federal grant to pay for part of the project and Commuter Services will now be able to foot the rest of the bill. A total dollar amount for the project was unavailable.
The shuttle route will be constructed in two parts. Moyes expects the first phase to be finished in early December. The next phase, which will link the route through campus, is expected to break ground after commencement in May and be completed sometime this summer.
Shireen Ghorbani, spokesperson for Facilities Management, said the finalized project will effectively be a widened pedestrian walkway that will also serve as the shuttle route. She said it may also be used to offload the nearby parking structure on Campus Center Drive during special events, but it will not be open to other vehicles.
Ghorbani said the current shuttle system on campus has high ridership, but many students have to ride the shuttles all the way around campus to get to their classes. She said the U has long recognized a need for more direct routes.
@NikiVenugopal