An open letter to our administration

Since the end of the spring semester, students have watched the availability of public transportation decrease steadily. First, the E Route, it was announced, would no longer run to College Mall. Then the A Route began running half as frequently. Now, the administration is promising us further route eliminations and adjustments for the fall semester. \nThough he did not respond to requests for an interview, Kent McDaniel, executive director of Transportation Services for the Campus Bus Service, confirmed in a previous interview with the IDS that soaring gas prices, rising hourly wages and increased benefits to drivers have placed an increased financial strain on the bus service. The Editorial Board is conscious of the challenges this presents. We understand that the Campus Bus Service must balance its books. However, we strongly believe the University is wrong in thinking that reducing the quantity of public transportation is the best way to achieve financial stability.\nHere’s why: Students will be willing to pay more to maintain the campus buses. \nIt sounds shocking, but it’s true. Students may protest increases because they hate the idea of paying more than the current $32.64 in transportation fees, but since the only available revenue for the bus service’s operational costs comes from the transportation fee, we can’t expect to have the same quality of bus service at the old price. \nIt’s therefore important to put potentially higher fees into perspective. Without accessible public transportation, students will either be stranded on campus or have to pay sizable fees to get a parking pass and $4 a gallon to fill their tanks each time they run errands. Even if we have to pay a little more each semester to maintain the buses, it is still a cheaper option than driving our own cars.\nAnd students are not the only ones who will suffer from a decrease in public transportation. The University is invested in promoting the walkability and bike-friendliness of Bloomington. Does it really want to become responsible for putting more cars on the road, increasing the city’s air pollution and making pedestrians less safe?\nHowever, adjusting the transportation fee may not be as simple as it sounds. Larry MacIntyre, assistant vice president for University communications, confirmed that fee increases are recommended by committee at the same time the Board of Trustees sets tuition – at two-year intervals. Under current Indiana law, MacIntyre said, fees will be unchangeable until the 2009-2010 year. This is unacceptable. We should have, at the very least, the option to pay more for the sake of preserving our public transportation. The bus service is a high priority and even a necessity for students on campus.\nWe therefore call on our administrators to take every necessary measure to keep the buses running. Even if they must search for temporary outside funding or campaign to change the state law that is blocking students from being able to pay for the bus service we need, maintaining our buses is crucial to a positive University environment.