CCU shuttle routes adapt to fit student needs

Students at Coastal Carolina University rely on the shuttle system to get them across campus.

Shuttle drivers are known for their friendliness and helpfulness, offering assistance throughout the day by transporting students and visitors around campus and to popular off-site destinations.

Greg Weisner, director of Transportation at CCU, has been working as a driver for local transit since 2010. Coastal Carolina University partnered with the local route workers, expanding, slowly, the available routes for students.

Weisner said, “CCU decided that they would want their own branded shuttle system for the main reason and ability to change routes to meet our needs.”

Weisner and his team are annually tasked with evaluating the efficiency of CCU’s shuttle system. This year began a new counting system.

“It counts the number of riders on each route that get on and off at each stop and that is new for this semester,” he said.

This method is used to provide the most timely service for the most populated shuttle stops. This is not the first time the shuttle system has adapted to the needs of CCU students. Many students were inconvenienced by the time it took for shuttles to navigate through University Place, so a new route had been created specifically for the UP housing area.

The idea for the counting management system was inspired by CCU’s Student Government Association and Weisner’s transportation department. Weisner is pleased with the Express shuttle’s success.

“That has been extremely popular; I am looking at the numbers now and I would not be surprised if in the future would have to put a second bus onto the UP Express, because it has been used so much . . . from Chanticleer East you can go just about anywhere on the backside of campus, from [Lib Jackson] Student Union, it’s a reasonable walk to Edwards, Sington and Prince,” he said.

The YY Express is also credited to Weisner and his team.

The team is tasked with observing the lots and counting the number of parking spots available for students who commute. Weisner discovered that from “Monday through Thursday, from about 8:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon, parking on main campus is to 98% utilization rate.” This data is measured by counting the spaces in which cars pull in and out from.

Weisner will be starting a campaign to encourage students to park in the YY lot, rather than attempt to park in a near-capacity lot. He is passionate about assisting students, and looks to help in whatever way possible.

“We are really trying to meet the students’ needs and come up with new and innovative ideas,” he said.

Weisner encourages students to email suggestions to him and his team at shuttle@coastal.edu or call 843-234-3433.

Shuttle Schedule:

• University Express Shuttle (Every 10-15 minutes) 7:00am to 4:00pm

-Student Union Station

-University Place Dining Hall

-Chanticleer East

• YY Express (Every 10-15 minutes) 7:00am to 6:00pm

-YY Parking Lot (Located off of Highway 544)

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station

• Teal Shuttle (Every 10-15 minutes) 7:00am to 4:00pm

-University Place (Low Country/Piedmont/Blue Ridge)

-Chanticleer Drive West

-TD Sports Complex

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station

-University Place (Low Country/Piedmont/Blue Ridge)

• Bronze Shuttle (Every 10-15 minutes) 7:00am to 4:00pm

-University Place (Sandhills/Grand Strand)

-YY Lot

-Chanticleer Drive West

-TD Sports Complex

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station

-University Place (Sandhills/Grand Strand)

• Teal/Bronze Shuttle (Every 20-30 minutes) 4 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

-Univ. Place (Low Country/Piedmont/Blue Ridge Sandhills/Grand Strand)

-YY Lot

-Chanticleer Drive West

-TD Sports Complex

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station

-University Place (Low Country/Piedmont/Blue Ridge Sandhills/Grand Strand)

• Black Shuttle (Every 10-15 minutes) 7:00am to 4:00pm

-Student Union Station

-Human Resources

-HGTC

-Coastal Science Center

-450 Century Circle - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Atlantic Hall - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Allied Drive - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Band Building - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station

• Black/White Shuttle (Every 20-30 minutes) 4 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

-Student Union Station

-Human Resources

-Coastal Science Center

-450 Century Circle - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Atlantic Hall - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Allied Drive - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Band Building - By Demand Only 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Walmart Plaza*

-CVS Pharmacy / Walk-In Clinic

-HGTC

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station[Text Wrapping Break]* Last pick-up at Walmart is at 10:30 p.m.

• Gold Shuttle (Every 20 minutes) 7:00am to 4:00pm

-Student Union Station

-GG Lot

-KK Lot

-Hackler Golf Course

-YY Lot

-Chanticleer Drive West

-TD Sports Complex

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station

• Night Ride 11 p.m.-7 a.m. CONTACT DRIVER: 843-902-RIDE (7433)

-Student Union Station

-GG Lot

-Kimbel Library

-Gardens

-University Place (Low Country)

-University Place (Piedmont)

-University Place (Blue Ridge)

-University Place (Sandhills)

-YY Lot

-Tradition Pavilion / HTC / Hicks

-Woods

-Student Union Station

• Weekend Route (Every 20-30 minutes) Weekends and student holidays, 7 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

-Student Union Station

-GG Lot

-Band Building

-Walmart Plaza*

-CVS Pharmacy / Walk-In Clinic

-University Place (Low Country)

-University Place (Piedmont)

-University Place (Blue Ridge)

-University Place (Sandhills)

-YY Lot

-Chanticleer Drive West

-TD Sports Complex

-Chanticleer Drive East

-Student Union Station

*Last pick-up at Walmart is at 10:30 p.m.

• Beach Shuttle: (Only on Saturdays) Departs Student Union Station at Noon. Returns to CCU from Myrtle Beach 9th Ave/Chester St. Bus Stop at 5PM

Another transportation option: Coast RTA http://coastrta.com/