Students who show their valid HACC student ID will be able to ride free on Red Rose Transit Authority's Route 20/Greenfield route on regularly scheduled school days. The service began Jan. 9 on the first day of class for the spring semester.
The ride program was developed at the request of members of the Student Government Association at HACC-Lancaster and is being paid for by the organization with student activity funds, which is included in tuition fees.
Student leaders, including SGA President Tahra Smith and Vice President Jara Potts, worked with RRTA gathering information and discussing affordable options before choosing to provide this service on a trial basis to the student body through the end of the spring semester on May 9.
Rising gas prices, reducing traffic on campus and being environmentally responsible were factors in making the decision to offer the free bus rides, said Smith.
This is a totally student driven and funded initiative that has the college's support, said Stuart Savin, Lancaster Campus Vice President and Dean.
Approximately 25 students currently ride the RRTA bus on this route three or four times a week, said Warren H. Bair II, Coordinator of Student Activities at the Lancaster Campus. The fare is $1.35 per ride per student.
According to the service agreement, the RRTA will collect daily ridership by HACC students and report the data at the end of each month to the SGA. The service does not apply to other RRTA routes, nor is it available on days in which no classes are scheduled.
"This is a great collaborative effort between HACC and RRTA to provide a benefit for all the students attending HACC and should help reduce the parking needs and congestion on their campus," said Dave Kilmer, RRTA's Executive Director. RRTA has a similar program with Millersville University.