Students who ride the campus connector, the bus that takes students to and from the medical and Monroe Park campuses, have discovered they no longer can step out at several corners of Grace Street or near the Coliseum.
This direct route with fewer stops pleases some students including Michelle Winslow, a sophomore criminal justice major and connector rider. She rated the route as more efficient with fewer stops.
“It involves less stops and lights,” she said. “The campus connector takes Leigh Street all the way to Third Street and Grace.”
Asha Sheth, a junior chemistry major who also rides the connector, agrees with Winslow’s comments. However, Sheth said she thought the university stopped the connector dropoffs because no one used them rather than the city needing to block traffic.
Gregory Rentz, manager of the parking and transportation office, said the parking and transportation office did not make the decision to change the route, which became necessary because of the city’s construction area.
“It’s something happening with the city. . . We just kind of have to do the best we can with what’s going on in the city.”
One stop at Grace and Third streets now replaces the three previous stops at Grace and Fourth, Grace and Seventh streets and the Coliseum Deck because of a roadblock on Grace Street.
Work related to Carpenter Center renovations and construction in the area have Grace Street blocked off, said James Harmon, Richmond’s Department of Public Works surveys superintendent.
Officials with VCU parking and transportation office and business services department said the stops reflect the student need and their feedback.
“If they like the stop that it is now I don’t know why we couldn’t keep it,” said Diane Reynolds, director of the business services department.
Parking and transportation officials, however, said they expect the initial route to return in mid-April. If students propose changes that include keeping the temporary route, their suggestions will be considered.