History

Past Attempts USG and IFC

Situation Analysis
Current Offerings Student Feedback and Collegian Coverage UPUA and Loop

Recommendation

1991 Campaign Promise of President Mike Stewart for Fraternity Loop

Students Surveyed with strong response in support As term ends, test trial begins on March 21st 1992 Administration pledges $300 of the $900 necessary to operate loop service

Three trials runs are conducted from 19921994

Longest Trial of 10 weeks conducted in Fall of 1993 Price set at $.25 a ride for all three trial runs

Sororities given the option to buy Chapter Pass for all members at $150

"I don't see how this would condone drinking," said USG member Derek Nadalini. "In my personal opinion, it's condoning safety. "I'd be willing to pay to get a ride home. It's a really long walk," said East Halls resident Jamie Ellis (freshman-marketing). "People confused the pick-up points and there wasn't a lot of advertising -- people heard about it by word of mouth," USG Senator Lisa Fields said. "It'll spark the same interest if not more," Panhellenic President Lisanne Farach said. "It should help in the safety of our sorority members and others."

Route changes for each of the three trials

USG did not have concrete funding Relied on university support & fares from ridership Intrafraternity and Panhellenic Council supported idea, but no funding/advertising support

Van Service used instead of Buses

History
Past Attempts USG and IFC

Situation Analysis
Current Offerings Student Feedback and Collegian Coverage UPUA and Loop

Recommendation

White and Blue Loop are the two primary bus services to students
Both White/Blue are offered at no cost to students on a daily basis No Coverage Exists beyond Beaver Ave. on weekend nights

Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services

Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services

Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services

Average Fall Semester Ridership Blue Loop Thursday Midnight-1:00 am 1:00 am - 2:00 am 2:00am- 3:00 am 161 62 8 Friday 398 323 59 Saturday 327 188 137

Average Fall Semester Ridership White Loop Thursday Friday Saturday

Midnight-1:00 am
1:00 am - 2:00 am 2:00am- 3:00 am

385
359

942
922

594
610

55 146 137 Note: Route Stops at the latest 2:15 AM

Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services

The Daily Collegian covers early version of

loop: Community Reacts

State College Borough Council President Elizabeth Goreham agreed with the proposal, "You won't have people screaming obscenities or ripping up shrubbery," she said. "It's an idea certainly worth exploring."

The "frata" loop would disrupt local traffic, cause loud noises for local residents, and encourage young college students to drink. Bob Davis State College "The key is to really promote the idea of safety, especially later hours in badly lit areas ... especially young women having to walk home from all these off-campus events," President Keirans said.
"We are pursuing joint funding," said IFC President Luke Pierce (junior-economics). "UPUA shouldn't be footing the bill."

By providing a safe and guaranteed ride home, it could also possibly cut back on the amount of alcohol-related injuries and public property crimes committed by students on their way home from parties.

Rather than funding another anti-drinking campaign that would assuredly go all but unnoticed, UPUA is being responsible and pragmatic by proposing a program that would actually help make Penn State safer.
If UPUA, IFC and PHC are able to fund the greek loop at no cost to students, as they currently propose, there's no reason not to go ahead with this idea.

Incumbent President Gavin Keirans campaigns on creating Highlands Loop

Full Funding Capabilities Exist through UPUA budget without the need for outside sources (University or Borough) Loop would not run through residential housing areas, only Student/Fraternity living IFC and PHC part of planning Team

Late Night Downtown Bus Service

Route

# of Buses 2
4

Frequency (min) 11
5

Loop (min) 22
20

Distance (mi) 4.1

3.1

Speed (mph) 11.18

9.3

Blue Loop
White Loop

Greek Loop (Requested)

Greek Loop (Proposed)

7.5

15

2.8

11.2

10

20

2.8

8.4

Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services

Test Trials have historically led to failure

Previously lack of funding existed, UPUA now fully funded to pay for service Large student support from Undergraduates through Student Government (UPUA), Greek Community through IFC and PHC Proposed Loop endorsed by The Daily Collegian through editorial board

History
Past Attempts USG and IFC

Situation Analysis
Current Offerings Student Feedback and Collegian Coverage UPUA and Loop

Recommendation

Implement the Highlands Loop by November 1st, 2009

Offer Full Bus Service from 1230am-3:30am on the mornings of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fund the Service for One Academic Year in full from the UPUA Budget

Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services

Come to agreement with borough for a vote of a One Year loop (Nov.-May), to be reevaluated in Summer 2010 Allow full year run to act as test trial, instead of abbreviated versions which have failed in the past
Fully Advertise Route through Penn State Marketing Association and Public Relation Director in UPUA

Two Buses running from 1230AM-330AM.

Provide Stops at every On Campus Living Area, Garner and Fairmount, Fairmount and Locust, Fairmount and Pugh Free to All Students provided by the UPUA

Have Auxiliary Police Officer or Volunteers on each bus as a further safety measure

UPUA will allocate $41,000 to pay for the bus services and has allocated this as a line item within the budget At the end of the year, UPUA will do a full overview conducted by the Department of Internal Affairs
Borough Officials, UPUA and Penn State Administration will reevaluate the plan after Spring semester