TCU Senate to extend Boston shuttle next year

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate announced on March 30 that it will extend the contract of the new "Discover Boston" bus service throughout the entire 2004-2005 academic year.

Citing widespread student support and large numbers of riders, the Senate renewed its contract with Vocell Bus Company, who runs the service from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

"The feedback we've gotten has been overwhelmingly positive, and it's a great option for students going into or out of Boston," TCU Treasurer Josh Belkin said.

According to Belkin and Project Manager Jeff Katzin, the later buses tend to be the most full, which is attributed to students entering Boston later in the evening, and the lack of availability of public transportation after the T stops running at 1 a.m.

"What we really want to see is that those last two runs are full," Katzin said. "What is most important is that we bring [students] back home safely."

The bus, free with a Tufts ID Card, departs the Mayer Campus Center hourly, stopping at 25 past the hour at the Boylston T stop and 35 past the hour at the Kenmore Square stop, both on the Green Line. The last bus leaves Kenmore Square at 2:35 a.m.

The shuttle will cost a total of $16,800 for the entire year, half of which will be provided by the University, as allocated by Executive Dean of Students Wayne Bouchard. The Senate, which is responsible for the remaining $8,400, is still working to secure contributions from the various groups on campus, according to Katzin.

Katzin said funding for this semester's shuttle comes from a wide range of administrators and student organizations, including Health Services, the Office of Public Safety, the Provost's Office, Hillel, the TCU Judiciary and the Office of Student Activities.

Recently the Office of Student Activities discovered that it might not be able to provide any funding for the shuttle.

"Presently the money I was hoping to give to the shuttle is being allocated to something else," Director of Student Activities Jodie Nealley said. "If I can reallocate that money to the shuttle of course I will."

"I think the bus to Boston is a big success," Nealley added. "It's good for the students to have a safe, reliable and frequent way to get downtown and back safely and it's a bargain for everyone."