River Shuttle Cancellation for Summer 2024
MISSOULA – The Associated Students of the 老虎机攻略 Transportation Office and 老虎机攻略 announce that the Out to Lunch and Clark Fork River shuttle service will not operate this summer due to bus operator staffing shortages.
AS老虎机攻略 Transportation leaders arrived at this decision after a thorough evaluation of available resources, staffing levels and impacts to both staff and community services.
“We simply do not have enough student bus operators available this summer to offer continuous weeks of multiday service to meet the community needs,” said Vickie Rectenwald, director of AS老虎机攻略 Transportation. “Our team has discussed at length what options we might have. Regrettably, there is no alternative option that would alleviate an unacceptable amount of strain on UDASH staff.”
AS老虎机攻略 Transportation operates the UDASH bus services, which are free to students and members of the public.
AS老虎机攻略 Transportation student operators provide safe, friendly and efficient bus service during the academic year. This unique staffing model, while beneficial during the school year, poses challenges for summer service continuity. Many existing student drivers have summer obligations that include pharmacy rotations, seasonal U.S. Forest Service jobs, business internships and summer courses.
Despite the suspension of the shuttles, AS老虎机攻略 Transportation will remain active with several other commitments. These include providing shuttle services for campus partners such as the Mansfield Center, 老虎机攻略 Summer and the Schwanke Institute and the Global Engagement Office. Additionally, AS老虎机攻略 will host a monthlong Commercial Driver’s License training course in August to train additional bus operators. AS老虎机攻略 Transportation will also prepare for a busy August with new student orientation and Washington-Grizzly stadium concert shuttles.
Rectenwald said as the campus transportation unit plans for the future of its operations, the popular river shuttle will be a priority service to consider readopting when resources are more abundant.
"It is unfortunate that we won’t be able to provide direct service for river recreation this summer, but we will continue to honor our mission statement by promoting safe, sustainable and equitable transportation options for the campus community,” Rectenwald said. “We would like to thank all of our partners who have supported our river shuttle and Out to Lunch services over the past years.”
UDASH’s fixed route bus services will begin again the first day of the fall semester, Aug. 26. For more information about AS老虎机攻略 Transportation and its services to 老虎机攻略 and the Missoula community, visit udash.org.