‘Safety’ key in shuttle service location change

Published in: The Globe

Originally Published: January 18, 2011

By Kalea Hall 

James Moore, a frequent shuttle passenger, said the new shuttle drop off/pick up location is a "change" that he, along with everyone else, will have to adapt to.

With the new location easier for her to reach, Mikelle Rindflish believes it will "probably be better."

Janette Pekar hopes the new location will "enhance" safety on campus. 

With the safety of Point Park University students in mind, the university decided to make a change in the shuttle pick up/drop off location from Third Avenue to Boulevard of the Allies, right outside of the Student and Convocation Center.

"This decision was made with the safety of all students, faculty and staff in mind," Director of Transportation and Administrative Services Pekar said in an e-mail interview.

Pekar said there was no specific incident that led to the switch, but there were incidents of passengers walking through traffic.

"Due to the increased traffic, both vehicle and pedestrian, Nathan's Franks and deliveries on Third Avenue it was decided to move the location," said Pekar about why the switch was made.

Moore, a freshman jazz major, said he preferred the old location because it was easier for him to access, and never saw any safety issues occur.

"I didn't see a problem over there because of all the college students around," Moore said.

However, Moore does agree that the new location is safer because "it's in it's own area with buses all around it."

Unlike Moore, Rindflish, a sophomore modern dance major, said she remembers safety issues with the older location.

"Students didn't pay attention to the light," Rindflish said.

Rindflish may believe the new location will more than likely be better, but she suggested a change that could also eliminate Point Park's safety concerns.

"I think it might be better if they pick up students inside the lot to relieve congestion," Rindflish said.

Even though Pekar says there are always safety issues, she hopes these safety concerns will be eliminated.

"I am hoping that this will enhance the safety of all concerned and enable drivers to provide service more efficiently," Pekar said. "Stopping on Third Avenue was very difficult at times for the drivers."

Times of the shuttles have not changed to the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Oakland, with the new shuttle pick up/drop off location. Monday through Friday, the shuttles begin service at 7:15 a.m. On Monday, the shuttle services end at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday the shuttle services end at 11 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday the shuttle services run from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m.

The shuttles to Pittsburgh Filmmakers have also not changed. The shuttles depart from Point Park periodically throughout the day beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1 p.m. on Friday. The shuttles also depart from Filmmakers periodically throughout the day but end at 9:10 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:40 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at 3:40 p.m. on Friday. The full shuttle schedule is available on the transportation page on the Point Park website.

There are also shuttles that depart for the Waterfront every Friday at 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. To return to campus, shuttles are available at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Also, every Sunday there are shuttles that depart for the Whole Foods store at 3 p.m.

"I hope that students, faculty and staff find this new location beneficial and adapt to the idea well," Pekar said.  "One of the goals with this change is to be able to provide transportation service more efficiently with the drivers having the ability to have a place to pull over and passengers boarding in a safe manner."

'Safety' key in shuttle service location change