With all the new additions and changes happening at Fort Hays State University, the parking available for students has become much more limited around campus. At the beginning of this semester, a shuttle service aimed towards students living in the on-campus residential housing was created as a way to transport students around campus conveniently, while allowing for the necessary construction to take place.
The shuttle service started running its full schedule on January 19th, and many students have had the opportunity to utilize the bus system since then. Jenny Parker, a freshman, has used the shuttle service several times while going from Cunningham Hall to McMindes and has found it to be very accommodating. “My experiences riding the shuttle bus have been great! There is always a friendly bus driver, and I would say it is conveniently available.”
Freshman Raquel Tomsic shared a similar opinion about her time spent on the shuttle bus, stating that the service was very friendly and fast. “The wait for the bus was only about 10 minutes or so, which definitely beat walking on a cold night.
While it is safe to assume that most students find the construction on campus to be slightly annoying, the shuttle service has offered a convenient alternative that keeps the campus running smoothly. Parker added, “I don’t like the construction here on campus, but the buses are helpful and it is just part of a process we have to go through in order to make change. I think that once it is all done it will be worth it.”
Tomsic felt that it would have been more convenient for the campus to have created additional parking before starting the construction. However, she understands the expansion goals that FHSU is working towards, and feels the construction in necessary to better campus for the future.
Overall students seem to be reacting well to the shuttle service on campus and feel that the system works for them. Although students will be relieved to see the construction on campus go, they understand that is just a bump in the road towards making FHSU a better place for both current and future tigers.