Since September, UNT's newly designed e-trans system has reduced the traffic clogging up Denton thoroughfares by an estimated 3,600 cars per day, according to Joe Richmond, associate director of UNT transportation services.

"The university is doing its part to ease drivers' frustrations over traffic tie-ups and road construction," Richmond says. "The e-trans system is reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles on Denton roads and it's also reducing traffic congestion on campus."

The recent success of the buses that transport people to and around campus lies in the redesign of the program, he says. Routes have been combined to respond more effectively to population density, and the buses' frequency has increased— they now arrive at each stop every eight to 10 minutes.

"We have figures on how many students ride the bus on an average daily basis," Richmond says. "For example, on Sept. 23 a total of 6,677 students rode on all e-trans bus routes. This means that the e-trans system has a projected ridership of nearly 1 million passengers this academic year."

Tom LaPoint, director of the Institute of Applied Sciences, says the buses are also good for the environment.

"It's widely known that air quality has been bad in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and that vehicular emissions contribute to the ozone problem," says LaPoint. "The fact that thousands of students are taking the e-trans bus instead of driving their cars helps eliminate vehicular emissions and cleans the environment."

In addition to easing traffic congestion and reducing vehicular emissions on campus, e-trans offers students a safe ride to and from entertainment areas near the university.

"It's essentially a mass-transit designated driver," says Reginald Bond, executive director of UNT's Health and Wellness Center. "The Night Rider, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, offers peace of mind and helps prevent serious accidents."

In addition to the Night Rider route, five e-trans routes operate during the day. These include the Mean Green and the Fouts Feeder, which are on-campus routes, and the Bernard Street, Colorado Express and North Texan, which are off-campus routes. Although the buses have individual routes, they all stop at the Union.

The Mean Green is a route serving on-campus housing, campus buildings and Fouts Field. The Fouts Feeder is a park-and-ride route — commuters park at Fouts Field and ride buses to the interior of campus. The off-campus buses serve apartment complexes and the Golden Triangle Mall.

For a copy of a daily ride guide or more information about e-trans, contact Richmond at (940) 565-3014.

BY CATHY CASHIO ccashio@unt.edu

Other web references

• Transportation Services web site

Other featured articles in this issue

• Rep. Burgess announces $3.1 million for Center for Advanced Research and Technology
• Latest UNT IDs serve as debit and ATM cards
• Holiday giving continues on campus
• Winter weather brings possibility for closures
• UNT creates Center for Psychosocial Health
• Council focuses on daycare
• Women’s Studies Program sponsors new book club
• UNT Moot Court teams take first, second place at statewide tournament
• TAMS students honored in science competition

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