Beginning winter term, students will be able to catch a Lane Transit District bus from the University to the Kinsrow neighborhood as late as 2 a.m. under a new plan created by ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz.
The plan was created in response to a rash of recent assaults on students walking home from campus late at night. It will extend the hours of the 79x bus route every night except Sunday, and cost the University $40,257. The University administration approved its portion of the funding Monday, and the ASUO Senate approved the proposal’s funding Wednesday night.
Currently, the only options for students who need rides home Monday through Saturday after bus service ends at 11 p.m. are the Assault Prevention Shuttle and Designated Driver Shuttle programs. Many of these students are freshmen who have been housed at Stadium Park Apartments because of shortages in the dorms.
“We’ve seen a pretty substantial increase in rides to Kinsrow this term,” said Zane Ritt, APS co-director.
The demand for later access to campus has also increased now that the Knight Library is open around the clock. More students are in need of service, and the large portion of them who need to travel across the Willamette River to Kinsrow have strained campus shuttle services.
Frank Szczepanski, a late night security guard at the library, estimated that 250 people use the library during its extended hours each night. He said he worries about their safety.
“People sometimes ask us to walk them home,” Szczepanski said.
The ASUO paid $20,000 of the program’s cost using a roughly $76,000 windfall that was generated by selling a carbon emissions tax credit the University earned. The remainder of the cost was paid by the University administration.
“For me, it’s about listening to people all the time who tell me they’re just going to walk home because they know APS isn’t going to come,” said Sen. Emma Kallaway, who supported the proposal.
“The service is very important,” said Robin Holmes, the University’s vice president for Student Affairs. “It’s an opportunity for us to partner with the ASUO.”
Dotters-Katz said he is very excited about the proposal.
“I think it’s a sign of the entire University’s commitment to working to solve the problems that face students,” he said. “And this happens to be the greatest one right now.”
Freshman Jon Shimmon, who lives in Stadium Park, said not having bus service to campus on weekend nights hinders his studies. He said he was happy about the ASUO’s plan.
“I could study with my friends on the weekends. It will be great,” he said.
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