That’s right! The Duke Parking & Transportation Services has finished outlining their new East-Central-West Intercampus Bus Policy and will soon begin to implement the new standards. The numerous changes to policy include a monetary charge upon boarding a C-1 bus, dramatic decreases in buses running this route, and C-2 services remaining free of charge.
Clint Nelson, serving as his third year as Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, claims, “Numerous factors have played into this decision. We have received pressure from various different groups about sustainability, budget cuts, and even health/wellness.”
One of many concerns voiced during the Transportation conference was the dramatic increase in bus-boarding time that would occur as a result of each student being required to pay before entering the bus. Nelson insures, “These issues were taken into consideration from the very beginning and we feel fairly certain that the pre-existence of the DukeCard will almost entirely eliminate this problem, not to mention that it requires minimal infrastructure installation on our part.” A second hot topic was the negative academic impact of fewer buses and longer travel time, as these changes may prevent students from arriving to class on time. He responded, “Students living on Central have been able to adapt from year to year, so I don’t see an issue. We are not removing the C-1 Service, but simply making it less frequent and charging students who use it. If anything, it will insure that the students who need the bus services most (say students who only have a 15 minute transition period to get from East to West) will be the ones to receive premier service among the large hoards of students expected to congregate at the bus stop.”
The greatest proponent for the implementation of this new initiative is Duke’s Campus Sustainability Committee, which has been advocating for more energy efficient policies since it its founding in 2007. Dean William Green, head of the Nicholas School of Environment, explained, “Duke University is striving to transition into climate neutrality by 2024 and transportation simply must be taken into consideration in the Climate Action Plan.” This green transition began slowly at first, with the introduction of 2 new hybrid-electric buses, which use an electric charge when travelling at speeds below 18 miles per hour and switch to low-sulfur diesel fuel once accelerated past that speed (2). These buses are a crucial component to the plan because they lead to a reduction in university fossil fuel use. Their increased size of 62 feet also allows them to more efficiently transport students; each can transport 130 passengers in one trip.
The goal is to cut down on the number of buses in rotation, while also creating incentives for more sustainable alternatives such as walking or biking. Dean Green adds, “It is part of a well-rounded liberal education to provide students with an understanding, or even a reminder, of their carbon footprint and subsequent environmental impact.” The initial stages of the plan have been a success. “As of 2011, we have achieved an 11% reduction in university emissions based on the 2007 baseline,” Green notes. (View graph)
But others are not convinced that this success comes at an appropriate cost. Many students and parents are outraged at the new policy. The mother of a freshman states, “I pay a ridiculously large sum of money to this institution each year, and you are telling me that my child has to pay for BUS services? Aren’t there certain courtesy services I should just assume? What’s next? Paying for every time he swipes in and out of his dorm?” The incoming policy has a large percentage of the student population riled up us well. Current tour guide Jennifer Holloway states, “It was initially hard to explain the new housing plan to prospective students and families, but now I have to explain a fee for transportation?” Senior John Clarence expressed his utter astonishment upon receiving the news, “They took tailgate and I cried for days. I was really down, but I overcame. We all overcame. But this? This is enough to drive someone to the edge, or worse, apply to… UNC! And who wants that? Their godforsaken baby blue and argyle… I fear for our beautiful blue race of Cameron Crazies in the face of such adversity.”
And to where exactly will administration direct these new funds? The answer is unclear. Perhaps the installation of mega-televisions like the one in K-4 in every Freshman dorm? Or maybe the expansion of football stadium seating to meet demand? Paying off Tyler Zeller for his “accidental” ball tip during this season’s game at UNC? President Broadhead had no comment, but Vice President Tallman Trask III mentioned a potential investment in a inter-campus rocket shuttle development program, so that by 2050 we could solve this transportation issue altogether!
The details are till being worked out, but we have been informed that the planned date for the implementation of this policy is April 1, 2013. Continue visiting Duke’s HerCampus page for updates!
…and in case you haven’t gotten it by now… APRIL FOOLS!!!!
Photo credit:
http://undergraduatedean.duke.edu/tag/student_blogs/
http://today.duke.edu/2011/11/hybridbuses
http://sustainability.duke.edu/climate_action/ClimateActionPlan.php
Sources:
1- http://www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/rlhs/central-campus
2- http://today.duke.edu/2011/11/hybridbuses