The University’s Transportation Services is now offering students and all other university affiliates transportation to the Meriden train station, New Haven train station, and Bradley International airport. The new service is the result of the Peter Pan and Greyhound Bus Companies’ elimination of Monday through Thursday service to and from Middletown.

“The Deans and I received e-mails from concerned students regarding the elimination of bus services to Middletown,” said Transportation Services Manager Marcello Curridori. “We’ve been providing rides before and after holidays all along.”

University rides to New Haven will cost $45 one way, rides to Meriden will cost $25, rides to Bradley International Airport will cost $55. The price of all rides can be shared by up to four people. For now, students will have to pay the driver in hand (no tip necessary), but Curridori says he is working out a way for students to pay for the ride in advance.

“A taxi to or from New Haven can cost $50 plus gratuity,” Curridori said.

According to Eileen, a ticketing agent at the Peter Pan Bus office in Middletown, the discontinued weekday roundtrip bus ticket to New Haven used to cost only $22.75.

Suzanne Folmnsbee, a public relations representative at the Greyhound headquarters in Dallas, Texas explained why Peter Pan and Greyhound busses will not be making weekday stops in Middletown.

“Greyhound is in the last phase of restructuring its route network,” Folmnsbee said. “Basically, we’re trying to make a network that better fits the needs of our passengers.”

After surveying passengers and analyzing ticketing information, Folmnsbee said, Greyhound found that passengers wanted faster rides with fewer stops. University students and local residents were also not providing enough business to continue stopping in Middletown on weekdays.

Curridori, however, promises Wesleyan can pick up the slack with no further expense to the school. All the revenues made transporting students off campus will be reinvested into the maintenance of Transportation Services, paying for vehicle repairs, insurance, and the driver’s hourly salaries. The same fourteen Wesleyan employees who drive the RIDE on campus will be scheduled by appointment to operate the extra service.

The new transportation will not, however, be a part of the RIDE service offered on campus. Students can schedule their own pick-up times, although they must make appointments two to three days in advance. The service will use vans that the University already maintains for students to rent out and to operate the Bradley Airport Shuttle.

The new transportation service has already provided a convenience for some students.

“We have three students who need to be dropped off and picked up at a conference in New Haven this weekend,” Curridori said.

When asked how they felt about the new service, students voiced varying opinions. Some were willing to avoid public transportation at any cost and appreciate the new service.

“I’m more comfortable with Wesleyan giving me a ride,” said Seth Halpern ’09.

Other students were not so keen on paying Wesleyan for a service they used to find elsewhere.

“The school’s prices are only a couple bucks cheaper than the taxis,” said Saul Carlin ’09. “I’m not so cheap that I’d help line Wesleyan’s pockets at the expense of local businesses.”

For Middletown area residents, the bussing cuts could be an issue to be reckoned with at a later date.

“We’ll monitor the situation, and if study shows we need service in an more economical way, than we’ll be willing to stand up to the bus service,” said Geen Thazhampallath, aid to Middletown Mayor Seb Giuliano.

Additionally, the WSA’s Independent Projects Committee (IPC) is currently exploring the feasibility of a weekly shuttle from campus to New Haven. They are studying similar services offered at other NESCAC schools and plan to work with administrators on creating such a service for Wesleyan.

“It might run Friday and back and forth Sunday to and from New Haven, or at least to Meriden, to connect with the train,” said IPC member Zack Blau ’09.

Although the IPC’s study started before the Peter Pan and Greyhound service elimination, Blau said that the changes offer further impetus to implement a shuttle.

Off campus rides can be scheduled by calling Transportation Services at x3788. The Peter Pan bus out of Middletown is still offered on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. and on Sunday at 4:40 p.m.

Other options include the Middletown Area Transit’s “M Link” bus from Middletown to the Amtrak station in Meriden, which costs $1.25 and runs Monday through Thursday and Saturday. The Connecticut Transit “U Bus” also costs $1.25 and runs from Middletown to the Greyhound, Peter Pan, and Amtrak Station in Hartford. The Transportation Schedules can be found in the Student Services Office in North College.