After receiving a variety of suggestions from the Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting last month, the University has announced a new grocery shopping shuttle service, according to an all-campus email sent by Director of Public Safety Scott Rohde on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Wesleyan Public Safety and Transportation Services will be offering this service 12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Sundays, beginning on Nov. 1, and remaining for the academic year.
“A number of students complained that there was not a reliable way to get groceries especially on weekends,” Rohde wrote in an email to The Argus.
The shuttle will provide services from Usdan to Price Chopper and back, free of cost. The email also explains that if time permits, passengers may be dropped off at points along this route that may be closer to their residence. However, the service will only provide transportation to Price Chopper, and will not stop at other stores along the way.
“The program will be a pilot for the balance of the academic year,” Rohde wrote. “If everything goes well we hope to make it permanent.”
He further explained that seven students will be able to fit in the van per trip.
“Pick up is anticipated at each location about every 30 [minutes],” the email reads. “Please plan accordingly. Certain frozen foods and highly perishable items are not well suited to this arrangement.”
Depending on spacing intervals between the departures, Rohde and the rest of the Public Safety and Transportation Services hope to meet the needs of any students who want to buy groceries from Price Chopper.
“The only concern that we have is that students will need to complete their shopping by 2:50 p.m. so there is ample time for all students to be returned to campus prior to the service discontinuing for the day,” Rohde wrote.
In order to ensure success with this program, there will be weekly assessments on ridership. From these evaluations, the program will make necessary changes.