Publication Date
2012
Abstract
In a car-based society, transportation has both environmental and economic implications. However, public transportation, and programs like Universal Access that promote public transportation by providing ‘fare free’ access to specific groups in the community, can offer low cost, sustainable alternatives to car-based transportation. The basic concept behind Universal Access is that a community group contracts with the local public transit system to provide unlimited access to public transportation for individuals within the group at a negotiated cost to the group (Toor et. al 2004). The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of creating a Universal Access program for one college campus, Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU). The research includes both a focus group and survey of IWU students to determine their transportation habits and usage and to see if a Universal Access program is desired by students. This project reveals that IWU students are interested in the creation of a Universal Access program, as well as other alternative transportation programs. The study suggests that creating educational programming for the use of the local bus system, Connect Transit, and creating a stakeholder committee to work out the details of the Universal Access program and other alternative transportation initiatives are the necessary next steps IWU should undertake to move toward more sustainable transportation policies.
Disciplines
Civic and Community Engagement | Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Kuehn, Liz '13, "Determining the Feasibility of Universal Access to Bus Transportation for Illinois Wesleyan University Students" (2012). Outstanding Senior Seminar Papers. 18.
https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/envstu_seminar/18