Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2015)
Buses, shuttles and automobiles Clackamas Community College works to improve transportation options for students BY TONY PELLICO Do you have trouble getting to school? Do you not have a car or are spending too much money on gas? Do you dislike having to transfer through many bus services? Clackamas Community College has a few transportation options that may suit your needs. One option is CCC’ s free shuttle service, entitled “ CCC Xpress Shuttle.” This offers free service for anyone going to and from the Oregon City campus, the Harmony campus and the Clackamas Town Center. The service provides a convenient transportation source for students who do not possess a personal vehicle, or students who have to ride the bus. It has affected many students positively. The sh u ttle’ s average ridership doubled since its inception in 2011. According to Luke Norman, CCC’s Transportation Systems Coordinator, a personal vehicle should not be the only way for an Oregonian to be able to participate in society. Norman, a graduate of the University of Michigan, was fortunate to have a secure transportation system from Ann Arbor, Mich, to the other suburbs. For people who commute from Detroit to the other sprawling Michigan suburbs, bus services are limited and “ their only option is to drive to work,” said Norman. Now a resident of Northeast Portland, Norman is the Transportation Coordinator at CCC. According to Norman, “ One third of students passed up or dropped a class due to a transportation issue.” which travel to and from both campuses often. The first shuttle goes to and from the CTC and Oregon City campus runs between 730 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The shuttle bus going to and from the CTC, Oregon City campus and Harmony campus runs between 6:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, the only shuttle that runs is the one going to and from the CTC and Oregon City campus, running between 7:30 a.m. and 11:05 a.m. Students from places such as West Linn don’t live close enough to the shuttle for easy access, so driving is the only w ay to travel w ithout a bus transfer in Oregon City. Norman said he understands this, stating “ Driving is still a key part of the transportation community.” This is a concept more realized by Tristan Stallcup, an 18-year-old resident of W est Linn and CCC freshman who drives to school by himself. He views this as a personal luxury, but would like to begin carpooling soon. “ Right now with school Brad Winslow, a 21-year-old student stated, just starting, it’s hard,” Stallcup said. “ Everyone’ s “ [My parents] can’t really get a car right now, so schedules are up in the air,” he added. Luckily, drivelessconnect.com is dedicated to it’s not like I can borrow one of my parents’ cars.” Winslow said that the shuttle is both convenient, helping students find a carpool partner. Students can sign up for the program by simply using their necessary, and also saves a lot of time. Students can find the CCC Xpress Shuttle parked @student.clackamas.edu email address. in the CCC bus roundabout, throughout various For a Q&A with Luke Norman, visit theclackamasprint.com times of the day. There are currently two shuttles in operation, A recent survey also found that transportation is the third biggest barrier between students and their academic goals at Clackamas. The shuttle has already begun to help that cause. “ One third of students passed up or dropped adassduetoa transportation issue.” Luke Norman photo by Debbie Fox Clackamas Print O C T O B ER 2 1 ,2 0 1 5 theclackamasprint.com 3
