The Villanova shuttle is a core aspect that allows our community to operate in the way it does. Students utilize this resource every day to commute to or from off-campus stops or to get from one place on campus to another quickly. Villanova offers on-campus and off-campus shuttles, which are identifiable by the digital displays above the windshields of each. The on-campus shuttle stops at each section of campus, allowing students to travel from South Campus all the way to West Campus without any walking. The off-campus shuttle is a big hit as well, offering transportation from various spots on Lancaster Ave, such as CVS, Target and the Bryn Mawr Villas: a popular apartment complex for senior students. However, many times, the shuttle is inconsistent, leaving many students feeling like it is not a reliable transportation option.
The shuttle, on paper, appears as a great option. It is a free method of transportation that quickly gets students across campus. However, many realize once they look at the official schedule times that the shuttle times offered are sparse and inconsistent. None of the stop times align with many students’ class schedules. For example, the only shuttle that arrives at Garey before the start of the 9:35 a.m. block period is 30 minutes before the start time. At that point, students may as well just walk.
This awkward timing might be related to the fact that the shuttle has too many stops. While some may believe the multitude of stops allows the shuttle to be more versatile and convenient for students, no matter where they are coming from, in reality, some of these stops are unnecessary. For example, there is a stop at the health center and then another stop at the Connelly Circle, which is only about a two-minute walk down the road. Wouldn’t it just make more sense to have one stop in the middle of these two locations? There are also multiple stops on West Campus: one at the Law School, Garey Hall and then another near the entrance to St. Mary’s Hall. If we reduced some of these stops, there may be an opportunity to increase the frequency of how often the shuttle arrives and drops students off.
In addition to this awkward timing, the hours the shuttle runs are inconvenient and unreliable for many students. After late-night study sessions in the Connelly Center on cold winter nights, students heading back to West Campus may want a ride home. However, many will soon realize that due to the limited operating hours (the shuttle stops running at 10 p.m. Monday through Friday), this is not an option. This is even more inconvenient for students living off campus without a car. They have to be diligent about making sure they do not miss the late-night shuttle, as that is their only way home.
While the shuttle services are great ways to provide free transportation to students, they need to make a few changes in order to be more efficient and to meet certain needs.
