Dr. Tracy Gottlieb, vice president of Student Services, recently approved the expansion of the SHUFLY shuttle service to add another shuttle on Sunday afternoons.
According to the Parking Services Facebook page, the change happened Feb. 16. Two shuttles are scheduled between 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays, with each shuttle stopping at Target every 30 minutes, instead of every hour.
Gottlieb said the goal is to meet students' needs.
"We want to provide the best possible shuttle service for our students," Gottlieb said. "We were concerned that SHUFLY was becoming so popular on the weekends - that's a good thing - that students were unable to take advantage of it because the bus was full. Doubling the schedule for Sunday afternoons should be a great addition," she said.
"My job is to make the hard decisions that weigh increased cost with better service," she added. "This appeared to be crucial for our students' quality of life on campus."
Some students, such as sophomore Bryan D'Imperio said they are not affected by addition.
Although D'Imperio said he is not a regular SHUFLY passenger, he said it is a good idea because "students can go where they need to go."
Other students praised the expansion and are grateful for the University's transportation services.
"I greatly appreciate the decision especially in light of the fact that SHUFLY services this semester has left something to be desired," sophomore diplomacy major Marissa Hutton said. "I've had a number of friends tell stories of how the SHUFLY was frequently a half hour off schedule or didn't even come to the stop, leaving them stranded at various locations, even at the mall."
Sophomore business student Jackie Marciniak said she is also grateful for the change.
"This is definitely an asset to the Seton Hall community, and myself included," she said. "There have been so many times that I have waited for it, specifically at Target, and it did not come on time." She also said that the expansion on Sunday, specifically, is important because a majority of SHUFLY users visit Target on Sundays.
Gottlieb compared the SHUFLY to any regularly-scheduled bus service.
"Sometimes weather, traffic and road conditions conspire against us and the bus runs late," she said. "Students should make their plans accordingly. We all really appreciate our students' patience and their goodwill, especially during this most trying winter weather."
Kevin Scimecca can be reached at kevin. scimecca@student.shu.edu.
