University of Virginia Library

Adams Cites Increase
In Transit System Use

By CINDI STUART

The number of daily
passengers using the University
Transit System bus service has
increased from 1350 to 3500
since the system was instituted
at the beginning of the
semester, announced Kevin
Adams, University transit
system manager.

One thousand passengers
use the bus service between
7:30 and 9 a.m. and another
thousand between 3:30 and
5:30 in the afternoon. Peak
loads are met on Mondays and
Wednesdays, when as many as
3700 individuals are carried, he
added.

Mr. Adams credits the
increase in the use of the
transit system to "people
learning how to use the bus
system to their advantage." He
adds that "as demand
increases, we'll probably be
getting more buses."

The transit system
presently has five buses, one of
which is a spare. The spare is
used as a "tripper" to reduce
the load at the peak times of
the morning and afternoon by
running ahead of the scheduled
buses by a few minutes.

The peak areas covered
through this system include the
hospital, University Hall and
both ends of McCormick Road.

The buses now in use will
soon be replaced by four new
35-foot General Motors buses,
equipped with air-conditioning,
and cushioned seats. They will
bear the University's colors of
blue and orange, rather than
those of a transit company.

Another advantage of the
new buses over their
seven-year-old counterparts
will be an "environmental
package," providing for
minimum pollutants and
offensive odors.

A route change, planned for
the beginning of December,
will eliminate Harmon Road
from the West Stadium run.
Instead, buses will run in both
directions on Jefferson Park
Avenue and Maury Road.

Further expansion of the
transit system includes plans to
increase service along Rugby
and Grady Roads to the
apartments in the Preston
Avenue area. This attempt to
accommodate about 20 per cent
of the University population
will possibly be realized in
September 1973.

The bus service schedule
will be altered during
Thanksgiving week. Buses will
run as normal on Monday, and
on Tuesday until 5:45 p.m.
From 5:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
on Tuesday, only the hospital
shuttle will be in operation.
The last bus will leave Copeley
Hill at 5:23 p.m. and the last
Copeley-bound bus will leave
the hospital at 5:45 p.m.

Regular transit service will
run on Wednesday until 9 a.m.
and from 3 to 5:45 p.m.
Fifteen-minute service will be
offered in the interim between
9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The schedule
will follow that of Tuesday
night after 5:45 p.m.

There will be no bus service
on Thanksgiving Day, and
service will resume on Friday
with the hospital shuttle only
from 6:30 to 12:30 a.m.
Full-time service will begin
with classes on Monday, Nov.
27.

Buses may be chartered for
University-sponsored groups
for evening and weekend trips
within the state, Mr. Adams
announced. Reservations
should be made at least two
weeks in advance to ensure a
bus.