UNMC Parking Services has spent the summer analyzing how best to address a reduction in student parking stalls on the Omaha campus and further enhance campus safety.
Among the solutions: Launching a pilot campus shuttle program – beginning Monday, Aug. 19 – to transport students, employees and patients around the Midtown Omaha campus.
“We are excited to provide this valuable service to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine employees, students and patients,” said Anne Barnes, UNMC’s vice chancellor for business, finance and business development. “We expect significant usage and will adjust the number of shuttles and routes to meet rider demand.”
The 14-passenger dual-branded shuttles will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. Two shuttles will operate during peak times; one, during non-peak hours.
Shuttle rides are free, and med center employees and students will be asked to scan their ID badge so ridership can be documented over time. The data will help leaders assess the viability of the shuttle program and adjust operations, as needed, based on ridership.
The shuttles will make eight stops along its route:
- Lot 63
- Lauritzen Outpatient Center
- Michael F. Sorrell Center
- Durham Outpatient Center
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
- Lots 56 and 57
- Kiewit Tower and Clarkson Doctors Building South
- Clarkson Tower
Each stop will have signage to identify it as a shuttle location. Also, a free mobile app will allow riders to track the location of the shuttles via GPS at any given time, as well as check arrival and departure times and shuttle capacity. Watch UNMC Today for when the app is available.
Kevin Jones, manager of support operations at Nebraska Medicine, said the shuttle stop locations were determined based on higher volume areas while keeping in mind a reasonable distance between stops. Meanwhile, the hours of shuttle operation were based on the largest volume of staff, students and patients.
Great initiative and very helpful.