Highlands Loop Proposal[1]

8/13/2019 Highlands Loop Proposal[1]

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History Past Attempts USG and IFC

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

Recommendation


3/26

1991 Campaign Promise of President MikeStewart for Fraternity Loop

Students Surveyed with strong response in

supportAs term ends, test trial begins on March 21 st1992

Administration pledges $300 of the $900necessary to operate loop service


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Three trials runs are conducted from 1992-1994

Longest Trial of 10 weeks conducted in Fall of

1993Price set at $.25 a ride for all three trial runs

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


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"I don't see how this would condone drinking," said USG memberDerek 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," saidEast Halls resident Jamie Ellis (freshman-marketing).

"People confused the pick-up points and there wasn't a lot ofadvertising -- people heard about it by word of mouth," USG SenatorLisa Fields said.

"It'll spark the same interest if not more," Panhellenic PresidentLisanne Farach said. "It should help in the safety of our sororitymembers and others."


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Route changes for each of the three trials

USG did not have concrete funding

Relied on university support & fares fromridership

Intrafraternity and Panhellenic Councilsupported idea, but no funding/advertisingsupportVan Service used instead of Buses


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Recommendation


9/26

White and Blue Loop are the two primary busservices to students

Both White/Blue are offered at no cost to

students on a daily basisNo Coverage Exists beyond Beaver Ave. onweekend nights


10/26Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services


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Average Fall Semester Ridership Blue Loop

Thursday Friday Saturday

Midnight-1:00 am 161 398 327

1:00 am - 2:00 am 62 323 188

2:00am- 3:00 am 8 59 137

Average Fall Semester Ridership White Loop

Thursday Friday Saturday

Midnight-1:00 am 385 942 594

1:00 am - 2:00 am 359 922 610

2:00am- 3:00 am 55 146 137

Source: Eric Bernier CATA ServicesNote: Route Stops at the latest 2:15 AM


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The Daily Collegian covers early version ofloop: Community Reacts


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State College Borough Council President Elizabeth Goreham agreedwith the proposal, "You won't have people screaming obscenities orripping up shrubbery," she said. "It's an idea certainly worthexploring."

The "frata" loop would disrupt local traffic, cause loud noises forlocal residents, and encourage young college students to drink. BobDavis State College

"The key is to really promote the idea of safety, especially laterhours in badly lit areas ... especially young women having to walkhome 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."


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

Rather than funding another anti -drinking campaign that wouldassuredly go all but unnoticed, UPUA is being responsible andpragmatic by proposing a program that would actually help makePenn State safer.

If UPUA, IFC and PHC are able to fund the greek loop at no cost tostudents, as they currently propose, there's no reason not to goahead with this idea.


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Incumbent President Gavin Keiranscampaigns 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 residentialhousing areas, only Student/Fraternity living

IFC and PHC part of planning Team


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Late Night Downtown Bus Service

Route of

BusesFrequency

(min)Loop(min)

Distance(mi)

Speed(mph)

Blue Loop 2 11 22 4.1 11.18

White Loop 4 5 20 3.1 9.3

Greek Loop

(Requested) 2 7.5 15 2.8 11.2Greek Loop(Proposed) 2 10 20 2.8 8.4

Source: Eric Bernier CATA Services


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Test Trials have historically led to failure

Previously lack of funding existed, UPUA nowfully funded to pay for service

Large student support from Undergraduatesthrough Student Government (UPUA), GreekCommunity through IFC and PHC

Proposed Loop endorsed by The DailyCollegian through editorial board


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Recommendation


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Implement the Highlands Loop by November1 st , 2009

Offer Full Bus Service from 1230am-3:30am

on the mornings of Friday, Saturday andSunday.

Fund the Service for One Academic Year infull from the UPUA Budget


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Come to agreement with borough for a voteof a One Year loop (Nov.-May), to bereevaluated in Summer 2010

Allow full year run to act as test trial, insteadof abbreviated versions which have failed inthe past

Fully Advertise Route through Penn StateMarketing Association and Public RelationDirector in UPUA


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Two Buses running from 1230AM-330AM.Provide Stops at every On Campus LivingArea, Garner and Fairmount, Fairmount and

Locust, Fairmount and PughFree to All Students provided by the UPUA

Have Auxiliary Police Officer or Volunteers on

each bus as a further safety measure


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UPUA will allocate $41,000 to pay for the busservices and has allocated this as a line itemwithin the budget

At the end of the year, UPUA will do a fulloverview conducted by the Department ofInternal Affairs

Borough Officials, UPUA and Penn StateAdministration will reevaluate the plan afterSpring semester


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Documents

Highlands Loop Proposal[1]