The Daily OrangeCentro increases routes to Shoppingtown, Wal-Mart
By Nishad Majmudar
Posted: 11/19/02, 1:54 AM EST Section: News
When trying to schedule a bus trip to buy groceries or go to the mall, Syracuse University students now face less waiting time.
Centro expanded two main bus routes to and from SU on Monday, with twice as many buses servicing these routes, said Rich Landerkin director of planning for Centro.
There will be more frequent service between SU and the Carousel Center, and more buses will be added to the SU-Shoppingtown Mall route, Landerkin said. Overall, the number of buses servicing SU-connected routes will double, he added.
The extra buses will be devoted to students traveling to Shoppingtown and Wal-Mart, Landerkin said. The Nob Hill route, which travels from Nob Hill Apartments to SU and continues on to Carousel Center, will continue to run every 70 minutes during midday.
"Things change. People change, economies change. This is an effort to improve service for many people," Landerkin said. "We've had many suggestions over the years to connect downtown Syracuse with the suburbs and the university area.”
Centro also expanded service to destinations near the edge of campus such as the Civic Center, the Syracuse Stage and Drumlins Country Club, according to revised bus schedules.
The demand for more buses to Carousel Center was certainly a factor in the Centro's route expansion, said Ellen King, director of student events. Parking Services handles SU's alliance with Centro, she said. When deemed necessary, Parking Services can have Centro provide more buses for the Carousel Center route, she said. After performing rider counts on SU's Carousel Center shuttle buses, SU Parking Services estimated that on an average, 1,000 students go to Carousel Center on a given weekend, King said.
"(The demand for mall buses) definitely prompted Parking Services to add buses," King said.
Meanwhile, Centro and the city government are considering the creation of Hancock International Airport shuttles as part of the Destiny USA project, Landerkin said. Airport shuttles remain unlikely because of low demand.
King hopes that students take advantage of the new services.
"The bus system is confusing as it is and when they do not come frequently, you lose confidence in them being on time," said Leif Ellington, a sophomore economics and public policy major. "It's a good thing that there are more buses going now."
Centro expanded two main bus routes to and from SU on Monday, with twice as many buses servicing these routes, said Rich Landerkin director of planning for Centro.
There will be more frequent service between SU and the Carousel Center, and more buses will be added to the SU-Shoppingtown Mall route, Landerkin said. Overall, the number of buses servicing SU-connected routes will double, he added.
The extra buses will be devoted to students traveling to Shoppingtown and Wal-Mart, Landerkin said. The Nob Hill route, which travels from Nob Hill Apartments to SU and continues on to Carousel Center, will continue to run every 70 minutes during midday.
"Things change. People change, economies change. This is an effort to improve service for many people," Landerkin said. "We've had many suggestions over the years to connect downtown Syracuse with the suburbs and the university area.”
Centro also expanded service to destinations near the edge of campus such as the Civic Center, the Syracuse Stage and Drumlins Country Club, according to revised bus schedules.
The demand for more buses to Carousel Center was certainly a factor in the Centro's route expansion, said Ellen King, director of student events. Parking Services handles SU's alliance with Centro, she said. When deemed necessary, Parking Services can have Centro provide more buses for the Carousel Center route, she said. After performing rider counts on SU's Carousel Center shuttle buses, SU Parking Services estimated that on an average, 1,000 students go to Carousel Center on a given weekend, King said.
"(The demand for mall buses) definitely prompted Parking Services to add buses," King said.
Meanwhile, Centro and the city government are considering the creation of Hancock International Airport shuttles as part of the Destiny USA project, Landerkin said. Airport shuttles remain unlikely because of low demand.
King hopes that students take advantage of the new services.
"The bus system is confusing as it is and when they do not come frequently, you lose confidence in them being on time," said Leif Ellington, a sophomore economics and public policy major. "It's a good thing that there are more buses going now."
