New bus service to Boston will begin trial run

Tufts administration and the TCU Senate have nearly completed plans to begin a new shuttle route into downtown Boston.

Director of Public and Environmental Safety John King and Dean of Students Bruce Reitman met with Senators Jeff Katzin and Josh Belkin Monday to run through the final logistics.

Students seem optimistic that the bus to Boston will allow the chance to enjoy the city after the Red Line closes in the evenings. "I think it will cut down on drinking on campus with easier access to alternate opportunities for entertainment in Boston," Freshman Stephanie Mayer said.

The new bus service will begin with a four-week trial run. "We're aiming for Feb. 6 but it may take three weeks," Katzin said, citing legal concerns over bus insurance. During the first four weeks, the shuttle will run on both Friday and Saturday night, beginning service at 9 p.m. at the Campus Center. The buses will run every hour on the hour until 3 a.m.

Vocell Bus Company will operate the downtown Boston bus route. Tentative stop locations have been planned for Kenmore Square and the Boylston T-stop. The shuttle into Davis Square is run by Joseph's Transportation.

King sees a particular weakness in the planned locations of bus stops. "There's one pickup on MBTA property that I hope we don't have any conflict with," King said. "I understand the locations [Boylston and Kenmore Square] are clearly more popular, but I'm not sure we can pick up on MBTA property."

King says that guest use of the bus will be strict. "Up front it's just going to be Tufts students. Dean Reitman was concerned some people [who are not Tufts students] would take advantage of free transportation," Katzin said. "Technically the students are paying for [the transport] with the student activities fee."

The Senate will consider producing guest passes if there is sufficient objection to the Tufts-only rule during the trial run.

The administration also addressed concerns about unruly behavior. "If people are intoxicated or disorderly the driver can refuse a ride," said Katzin. "But that's the same rule as MBTA buses."

Currently, students who choose to stay out past 12:30 am without a car find themselves facing an expensive cab ride back to Tufts.

The Vocell-operated bus will be the first regular shuttle into the city from Tufts, though it is not the first transport to Boston that has been proposed. "It's been talked about but it's never materialized, I don't know why," King said.

The shuttle service will cost the University $350 per evening and $2,800 over the four-week trial-period.

King said that it is hard to foresee how the trial will turn out. However, according to Katzin, "if there are no problems we have every intention to continue the service."