JANESVILLE - The number of students using Blackhawk Technical College's shuttle bus system has been a "big surprise," says Edward Robinson, vice president of student services at the college.
"It's been more than what we expected," Robinson said. "Each semester we've seen an increase in ridership."
BTC in August began running two free shuttle buses to transport students to and from the college's Janesville central campus, Beloit campus, Monroe campus, Milton Advanced Manufacturing Center and Janesville Center for Transportation Studies.
"We review routes and schedules every month as we hear from students and staff," Robinson said. "Faculty and students make suggestions. If something is a matter of leaving a place five minutes earlier or later, we have made a number of adjustments to help students."
Robinson said one of the most-used routes is between Monroe and Janesville. He said the majority are taking it from Monroe to Janesville then back home.
"Something we did not expect was the large percentage of those riding the shuttle coming to and from Monroe," Robinson said. "That was a big surprise. We thought we'd have the most people taking to and from Beloit to Milton."
From October to April, 767 students took the shuttle between Monroe and Janesville. During that same time, 777 students rode the shuttle between Janesville, Beloit and Milton.
Dan Krause, shuttle bus coordinator for the college, said Monroe is "his biggest hitter," but he was surprised with the ridership at all locations.
"Mondays are our heaviest day," Krause said. "Fridays, early morning and late evenings have the least amount of students."
"We are the only tech school to have it," he said. "It's beneficial for students. It's easier for them to not have to take their car."
Monroe resident Brooke Ostrander takes the shuttle from Monroe to Janesville for classes in ultrasound each Tuesday and Thursday. She said she hated driving and uses her time on the shuttle to study.
"It saves me so much money and time," she said. "It gives me time to get stuff done that I would be wasting driving."
Robinson said student demand led to the creation of the shuttle service.
"We heard from students, and we heard from community organizations - a number of them," Robinson said. "One of the things we heard from them was transportation was a barrier for folks. We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible."
Purchasing the two shuttles and applying logos to the vehicles cost the college $138,000, according to the college's 2014-15 budget.
Robinson said the shuttles are driven by five part-time drivers. The capacity of the shuttles is 16 for one and 24 for the other. About 50 gallons of gas are used each day, and oil changes are performed every four to six weeks, Robinson said.
The BTC shuttle schedule doesn't compete with public transportation, so students who don't catch the shuttle still have an option, Robinson said.
Student organizations traveling to weekend events use the shuttles rather than chartering buses, Robinson said.
Krause said a radiology group from the college used it two weeks ago to travel to northern Illinois to aid tornado victims.
"We have a number of active student clubs that have used shuttle buses to go on trips," Robinson said. "To be able to use our own shuttle services has been awesome. That's been another surprise. We were hoping this would happen."
"It's been more than what we expected," Robinson said. "Each semester we've seen an increase in ridership."
BTC in August began running two free shuttle buses to transport students to and from the college's Janesville central campus, Beloit campus, Monroe campus, Milton Advanced Manufacturing Center and Janesville Center for Transportation Studies.
"We review routes and schedules every month as we hear from students and staff," Robinson said. "Faculty and students make suggestions. If something is a matter of leaving a place five minutes earlier or later, we have made a number of adjustments to help students."
Robinson said one of the most-used routes is between Monroe and Janesville. He said the majority are taking it from Monroe to Janesville then back home.
"Something we did not expect was the large percentage of those riding the shuttle coming to and from Monroe," Robinson said. "That was a big surprise. We thought we'd have the most people taking to and from Beloit to Milton."
From October to April, 767 students took the shuttle between Monroe and Janesville. During that same time, 777 students rode the shuttle between Janesville, Beloit and Milton.
Dan Krause, shuttle bus coordinator for the college, said Monroe is "his biggest hitter," but he was surprised with the ridership at all locations.
"Mondays are our heaviest day," Krause said. "Fridays, early morning and late evenings have the least amount of students."
"We are the only tech school to have it," he said. "It's beneficial for students. It's easier for them to not have to take their car."
Monroe resident Brooke Ostrander takes the shuttle from Monroe to Janesville for classes in ultrasound each Tuesday and Thursday. She said she hated driving and uses her time on the shuttle to study.
"It saves me so much money and time," she said. "It gives me time to get stuff done that I would be wasting driving."
Robinson said student demand led to the creation of the shuttle service.
"We heard from students, and we heard from community organizations - a number of them," Robinson said. "One of the things we heard from them was transportation was a barrier for folks. We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible."
Purchasing the two shuttles and applying logos to the vehicles cost the college $138,000, according to the college's 2014-15 budget.
Robinson said the shuttles are driven by five part-time drivers. The capacity of the shuttles is 16 for one and 24 for the other. About 50 gallons of gas are used each day, and oil changes are performed every four to six weeks, Robinson said.
The BTC shuttle schedule doesn't compete with public transportation, so students who don't catch the shuttle still have an option, Robinson said.
Student organizations traveling to weekend events use the shuttles rather than chartering buses, Robinson said.
Krause said a radiology group from the college used it two weeks ago to travel to northern Illinois to aid tornado victims.
"We have a number of active student clubs that have used shuttle buses to go on trips," Robinson said. "To be able to use our own shuttle services has been awesome. That's been another surprise. We were hoping this would happen."