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Free Bus Service for Students, Faculty and Staff Expands Through COLTS Service
Beginning Monday, Feb. 28, COLTS bus service provide free weekday transportation between The University of Scranton, Marywood University and The Mall at Steamtown for University students, faculty and staff.
Students, faculty and staff will also be able to ride the COLTS Evening City Circle North Route free of charge. This van, which runs Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to just past midnight, will depart from the DeNaples Center turn loop and stop at the Viewmont Mall, the IMAX Theater in Dickson City, the Giant Market in the Green Ridge Shopping Center, Gerrity’s in the Keyser Oak Shopping Center, area hospitals, Marywood University and on Wyoming Avenue near The Mall at Steamtown and Marquee Cinemas.
“The use of COLTS to provide transportation free of charge to our students, faculty and staff is more cost effective for the University, expands the service offered, and also provides additional support to the county and area businesses,” said Edward Steinmetz, vice president for finance/treasurer at The University of Scranton. The University already provides a voluntary contribution of $58,500 to Lackawanna County annually.
“This new partnership between COLTS, The University of Scranton and Marywood University is a win-win for all parties,” said Bob Fiume, executive director of COLTS. “We revised two of our existing routes to expand service to the two universities and give students, faculty and staff more options for transportation, and we’re hoping this increases our ridership.”
University of Scranton students, faculty and staff must show a valid Royal Card ID to use the free transportation on two COLTS routes. The bus route that replaces the SmartRide adds additional stops and is available from Monday through Friday. The bus departs from the Royal Way on Mulberry Street every 40 minutes, beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. In addition to stops at Marywood University and The Mall at Steamtown, the COLTS bus route stops at Cooper’s Restaurant, the Albright Memorial Library and the Scranton Cultural Center.
The second route is the COLTS Evening City Circle North Route, which runs Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to just past midnight. The COLTS van will depart from the DeNaples Center turn loop at six minutes past the hour beginning at 8:06 p.m. and continuing through to 12:06 a.m. The bus will stop at the Viewmont Mall and the IMAX Theater in Dickson City, the Giant Market in the Green Ridge Shopping Center and Gerrity’s in the Keyser Oak Shopping Center, as well as area hospitals, Marywood University and near The Mall at Steamtown and Marquee Cinemas downtown.“
The free bus service gives students a chance to get off campus – whether it is to do a little shopping, see a movie, or get something to eat,” said Ciro Saverino of Manalapan, N.J., a member of a student committee that has been working with the University and COLTS to transition to the expanded service.
“The evening route goes to two malls, two shopping centers and two movie theaters. The van can also stop at Target or Walmart if requested by a student,” said Brian Riordan of Ramsey N.J., another member of the student team working with COLTS. He also mentioned that students should be sure to know the bus schedules and depart times, especially if they request the bus to make an additional stop along the route.
Schedules will be available at the DeNaples Center as well as online at www.coltsbus.com/college.
The team of University of Scranton students will continue to work with COLTS on possible additions to the service in the future. In addition to Riordan and Saverino, the other students participating are Carlyn Ball, Bloomsburg; Emily Diaz, Dover, N.J.; Michelle D'Souza, East Meadow, N.Y.; and Kyle Gleaves, Wilkes-Barre. Gary Zampano, director of purchasing, organized the student committee and overseeing the project.
For questions about the COLTS routes, call 346-2061. In the evening, for questions regarding the City Circle North Route, call 347-8877.
