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**Remember to Save your work before leaving this page.** Student Transportation Planning Committee University of Delaware 11777 S. College Road Newark, DE 19716 Phone: (302) 831-7747 April 20, 2008 Newark, DE 19711 Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick: Thank you for meeting with the committee on April 15th to discuss the need for an improved bus transportation system for the students of the University of Delaware. The enclosed proposal contains the procedure and schedule that the committee would follow in order to resolve the problem at hand in a timely manner. It also includes the costs that are involved in this project. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you should have any questions about the proposal. We look forward to working with you and your staff in getting this issue resolved. Sincerely, The Student Planning Committee Enclosure = The University of Delaware Student Transportation Planning Committee = ** Proposal ** Safe and Cost Effective Bus Transportation System for University of Delaware Students = = = = = Introduction = The University of Delaware Student Transportation Planning Committee proposes to create a bus transportation system that will provide a safe and cost effective alternative for on and off-campus students. The current public transportation system in Newark is failing to meet the students' need to travel to Wilmington, DE and Philadelphia, PA. Thus, the Committee's goal is to eliminate this problem and add an entirely new bus line to the University's public transportation system. = Statement of Problem = An obstacle that many students, living on and off-campus, often face is the lack of transportation that the University of Delaware provides. To travel to surrounding cities for a day or night trip, students must own a car, borrow a car, or resort to buying a costly bus or train ticket. It is very inconvenient for residents on main campus and commuting students to venture out of Newark to be able to experience other atmospheres. The students at the university need alternative transportation options for those that do not have access to a car and wish to leave the city of Newark. = Objective = Our mission is to investigate the different public transportation options available to students at the University of Delaware. By researching students’ needs and expectations of the University’s public transportation system, we hope to identify specific locations outside of campus and later times to add to the current transportation schedule. With the current lack of busses to the Wilmington and Philadelphia areas at night, we would like to implement a plan to aid commuting students and students who live on campus without a car. We hope that by targeting students’ specific needs, there will be an increase of students using the University of Delaware’s transportation services to travel off campus. In addition, an increase of public transportation decreases personal automobile use. This in turn has the potential to decrease parking on campus and the potential to decrease the amount of students who drink and drive. = Procedure = 1. We will ask 70+ students of different ages and genders to investigate who lives on/off campus, their primary modes of transportation and who would take advantage of the expanded transportation system.

2. We will investigate where University of Delaware students commute to or from and the places they like to travel to.

3.  We will research different options the university can use to expand their system, which will include: a. Adding more bus routes and times

4.  We will research the cost of service for different transportation companies.

5. We will contact the university and analyze what system they already have in place and what they are willing to change. = Record of Service = The University of Delaware Student Transportation Planning Committee is dedicated to helping commuting and traveling students get where they need to go in a more reasonable and convenient way. We are always refining the University of Delaware bus system to meet the students’ needs. = Costs to the University of Delaware = Our work for one month will cost the University $5,000. Any additional work needed after May 21st will be free of charge. This is a part of our guarantee that we will find a solution to your problem in the time allotted. = Schedule = Week of April 20, 2008 -  Initial interview -  Collection of data -  Survey students

Week of May 4, 2008 -  Analysis of results from research and survey

May 21, 2008 -  Presentation to Newark Public Transportation at the Newark Municipal Building Letter/Memo of Transmittal Title Page Table of Contents List of tables and figures Executive Summary = Introduction = One of the University of Delaware’s key selling points to prospective students is their location. The University of Delaware advertises that although it is a campus school, UD is also only fifteen minutes from Wilmington and forty-five minutes away from Philadelphia and city life. Although Philadelphia and Wilmington are close to the University, it has been discovered that the University of Delaware’s transportation system does not adequately assist students in reaching these locations. The goal of our firm is to identify the current flaws with the University of Delaware’s public transportation system. Next, with the collaboration of our firm and the University, we hope to find an appropriate solution. Our two target populations are those students who commute to campus and those who live on campus. We want to help those students who commute to campus from the Philadelphia area by shortening their driving time and increasing their use on Delaware transportation services. In addition, we want to create a system for students living on campus who want to travel to Wilmington or Philadelphia. It is important for students to have access to surrounding areas without the need to possess a car. There are two different means of public transportation via train available for students to Philadelphia: Septa Rail and Amtrak. The key problem with Amtrak is the price; it costs $36.00 each way. As a result, it is normally out of a student’s price range. In addition, the train also only comes to the Newark Amtrak station once a day north bound and once a day south bound. The second rail option, Septa, is monetarily more affordable and has more flexible hours. However, it only comes to Newark Monday through Friday for commuters traveling to work. (6:20 am – 11:50 am) and (4:46 pm – 7:23 pm). This schedule does not accommodate a student’s schedule. Another popular destination for Newark students is Wilmington. There is currently a DART bus, which runs Monday through Saturday until 11:15 pm at night. Although convenient for commuter students, it does not appeal to students living on campus who want to go to the Wilmington area at night. The University’s transportation services on campus include, their UNICITY bus system. UNICITY is a free service by the City of Newark and the University of Delaware. There are busses that cater to students who live on campus and to those who live in nearby off – campus buildings. The following report will outline in detail our procedure, research, conclusions and recommendations to the University of Delaware. Our goal is to create convenient means for student travel to the Philadelphia and Wilmington areas.

=Procedure =    1. We interviewed 77+ students face to face to research students’ needs and expectations of the University’s public transportation system. The survey was randomly conducted during the weeks of April 20, 2008 and May 4, 2008 on the main campus in Newark. We alternated between male and female student, so the survey consists of an equal amount of males and females.   The survey questions are as follows;  ·  Age ·  Where they live – On/Off campus ·  The way they commute to school ·  Willingness of using the new bus system ·  Cost  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"> 2. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">We investigated the route University of Delaware students commute and where they would like to travel to. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"> 3. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">We researched different options such as various bus routes and frequent times to facilitate students’ needs. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"> 4. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">We researched the bus schedules to Philadelphia from Wilmington and from Wilmington/Newark to Dover. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"> 5. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">We studied maps and current bus schedules to find a way to enhance the current UD transportation system. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"> 6. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">We met with Thomas J D’Alessandro, the manager of Transportation Services at the University of Delaware on April 14th, to learn if there is any attempt to expand bus lines to Philadelphia as well as cost to run a new bus line for a year. After meeting with him, we learned that there has been no attempt to add a new bus line to Philadelphia for the past 3 years and it would approximately cost $75,000 to add a bus line. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"> 7. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">We researched the cost of service for different transportation companies. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">

= Analysis =

Current University of Delaware Bus Schedule
The UNICITY Bus System is a service of the CITY OF NEWARK and UD TRANSIT of the University of Delaware, with funding assistance from the State of Delaware. Buses operate Monday through Friday except New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

<span style="COLOR: rgb(125,0,137)">Route N-1
**Table 1.** UNICITY Bus Schedule ( [|www.udel.edu/SuppSrvc/bus/Unicity.html] )
 * <span style="COLOR: rgb(125,0,137)">** STOP LOCATION ** || **<span style="COLOR: rgb(125,0,137)"> AM ** || **<span style="COLOR: rgb(125,0,137)"> AM  ** || **<span style="COLOR: rgb(125,0,137)"> PM  ** || **<span style="COLOR: rgb(125,0,137)"> PM  ** || **<span style="COLOR: rgb(125,0,137)"> PM  ** ||
 * Kimberton Pool/White Chapel/Senior Center || 8:51  ||  10:36  ||  12:21  ||  2:06  ||  3:51  ||
 * College Square || 8:54  ||  10:39  ||  12:24  ||  2:09  ||  3:54  ||
 * Library || 8:56  ||  10:41  ||  12:26  ||  2:11  ||  3:56  ||
 * Main Towers || 9:00  ||  10:45  ||  12:30  ||  2:15  ||  4:00  ||
 * 36 E. Main Street/Newark Deli & Bagels || 9:10  ||  10:55  ||  12:40  ||  2:25  ||  4:10  ||
 * Madison Drive & Thorn Lane || 9:15  ||  11:00  ||  12:45  ||  2:30  ||  - -  ||
 * Suburban Plaza || 9:21  ||  11:06  ||  12:51  ||  2:36  ||  4:15  ||
 * Park-N-Shop || 9:27  ||  11:12  ||  12:57  ||  2:42  ||  (To N-3)  ||
 * Hillside & New London Roads || 9:29  ||  11:14  ||  12:59  ||  2:44  || ||
 * Fairfield Shopping Center || 9:35  ||  11:20  ||  1:05  ||  2:50  || ||
 * Pinebrook Apartments || 9:44  ||  11:29  || ||  2:59  || ||
 * Kirkwood Highway & Anna Way || || || 1:14  || || ||
 * Newark Library || 9:49  ||  11:34  ||  1:19  ||  3:04  || ||
 * Main Towers/Newark Shopping Center || 9:54  ||  11:39  ||  1:24  ||  3:09  || ||
 * 36 E. Main Street/Newark Deli & Bagels || 10:04  ||  11:49  ||  1:34  ||  3:19  || ||
 * West Park Place & Elkton Road || 10:08  ||  11:53  ||  1:38  ||  3:23  || ||
 * Train Station || || 11:57  || || || ||
 * South College Avenue & Marvin Drive || 10:12  ||  11:58  ||  1:43  ||  3:28  || ||
 * Southridge || 10:15  ||  12:01  ||  1:46  ||  3:31  || ||
 * Villa Belmont || 10:19  ||  12:04  ||  1:49  ||  3:34  || ||
 * Chestnut Hill Road/Pencader Plaza || 10:25  ||  12:10  ||  1:55  ||  3:40  || ||
 * Chestnut Hill Plaza || 10:31  ||  12:16  ||  2:01  ||  3:46  || ||

Survey of University of Delaware Students
The Committee asked 77 University of Delaware students a set of questions about the current transportation problem and recorded the results, which are shown in Table 2. The questions that we asked students to answer are as follows: 1. Age/Gender 2. Do you live on-campus or off-campus? 3. Do you have a car? If not, what is the primary mode of transportation you use? 4. Would you use a bus transportation system that allows you to travel from Newark, DE to Philadelphia, PA or Wilmington, DE, 7 days a week from 8am-2am? If yes, how much would you expect it to cost? = Age/Gender = || ** On/Off Campus ** || ** Car? If not, what? ** || ** Would you use the system? ** ||   ** Cost? ** || Out of the 76 students that were interviewed, only two answered “No” to using the new bus route, however they were both over the age of twenty-two and lived off-campus. Our statistical analysis of the survey data indicates that the majority of University of Delaware students are in need of an alternative bus route that will take them to Wilmington and Philadelphia. Students are particularly interested in this type of bus route because it will be available to them until 2am, which will enable them to experience nightlife in each of the cities. This bus will also ensure that students have a safe way to get back to Newark, which could possibly reduce drunk driving accidents involving UD students. Figures 1 and 2 depict the necessity for the Wilmington/Philadelphia bus route to be incorporated into the University’s bus system.
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 22 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $2  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 24 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $10  ||
 * 18 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $1.50  ||
 * 18 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $2  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $2.50  ||
 * 23 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  N  ||  ---  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $1  ||
 * 20 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 22 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 22 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $15  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 18 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 23 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $2  ||
 * 23 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $4  ||
 * 21 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $7  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $20  ||
 * 18 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $2  ||
 * 18 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $9  ||
 * 24 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  N  ||  ---  ||
 * 21 ||  OFF  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $15  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 22 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 22 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $2  ||
 * 22 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $3.50  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $4  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 23 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $10  ||
 * 25 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $8  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $7  ||
 * 18 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 18 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 24 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $9  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $20  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $10  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $15  ||
 * 21 ||  OFF  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $2.75  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $1  ||
 * 23 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $25  ||
 * 24 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $15  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 19 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $10  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $2  ||
 * 22 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $20  ||
 * 23 ||  OFF  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 22 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $4.50  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 23 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $9  ||
 * 23 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $7  ||
 * 22 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 21 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $10  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $10  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $20  ||
 * 25 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $15  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $3  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $10  ||
 * 19 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $4  ||
 * 20 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $4  ||
 * 20 ||  ON  ||  BUS  ||  Y  ||  $5  ||
 * 22 ||  OFF  ||  CAR  ||  Y  ||  $1  ||
 * 21 ||  ON  ||  WALK/BIKE  ||  Y  ||  $20  ||
 * Table 2. 2008 UD Student Survey Data **

**Figure 1.** Students who are living on-campus answering “Yes” vs. students who are living off-campus answering “Yes” or “No” = Conclusions and Recommendations = After researching the public transportation systems available to University of Delaware students, the University of Delaware Student Transportation Planning Committee determined that some changes needed to be made to better service the students. After surveying University of Delaware students, we found that 98% of the students interviewed would use an extended transportation service going to Wilmington and Philadelphia between the hours of 8am-2am. Also, the majority of the students interviewed would be willing to spend between $2 and $5 for the fare. Currently there are four means of transportation the students can choose from: the Septa Rail and Amtrak, which go to Philadelphia and the DART bus system which goes to Wilmington and the UNICITY free bus system that only services the City of Newark. The SEPTA stops coming to Newark around 7:30pm, Amtrak is very expensive, the DART buses stop service at 11:15pm and the last route on the UNICITY bus stops at 5:54pm, which doesn’t go into Wilmington at all. The University of Delaware Student Transportation Planning Committee recommends that the public transportation systems of Delaware expand their services to students traveling to Wilmington and Philadelphia from the hours of 8am to 2am. We feel this will be an economic gain for Delaware transportation services and will keep students off the road in the early morning hours. If a bus goes to Wilmington and Philadelphia, charging at the most $5.00 with an average of 15 students riding per hour, in two months the Delaware Transportation system would make $75,600 exceeding the $75,000 it took to create the new bus line.
 * Figure 2. ** The age of the students who answered either “Yes” or “No” and their primary modes of transportation.