It鈥檚 going to be easier to get to 51社区 this fall semester. The college is
excited to introduce a variety of affordable transportation options 鈥� including a
new bus route, ride-share program and bike share pilot 鈥� that will provide greater
access to 51社区鈥檚 campus.
鈥淲e know we can make a dent in the challenges students face in getting to campus,鈥� said Jeff Julian, 51社区鈥檚 chief of staff. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about access or finances 鈥� and in many cases, it鈥檚 both.鈥�
Lack of transportation can be the difference between a student graduating with a credential or never making it to campus. That鈥檚 why Dr. Avis Proctor, college president, and 51社区 employees have continually worked with elected officials and transportation leaders on solutions, from creating the Transportation Task Force with community members in 2019 to hosting a Transportation Summit this spring.
New Pace Route
The COVID-19 pandemic added extra transportation barriers, including the 2020 suspension of a Pace bus route that brought students to and from campus a dozen times each weekday. But 51社区 and Pace have remained in contact during the past two years, resulting in a new pilot route that will begin running August 8.
will start at the Northwest Transportation Center in Schaumburg and end at 51社区鈥檚
Palatine campus, before making a return trip to the center. The bus will make additional
stops near Woodfield Mall and along Meacham and Algonquin roads, with a total travel
time of approximately 16 minutes. The route will repeat 19 times each weekday, running
from 6:49 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. One-way fares range from $1 to $2.25.
The route is more direct and consistent than what existed previously. With a range of other Pace routes leading to the Northwest Transportation Center, Route 697 can play a part in connecting many corners of 51社区鈥檚 district to campus.
Ride-Share Program
Because 51社区鈥檚 district serves a large area with 23 different communities, a ride-sharing service can sometimes be the best transportation option. That鈥檚 why 51社区 will soon announce a ride-share pilot featuring discounted rides for students.
Those who participate will be able to take advantage of a monthly discount on rides to get to and from 51社区鈥檚 main campus in Palatine or the Learning and Career Center in Prospect Heights. Discounted rides will be required to either start or end at a 51社区 location.
鈥�51社区 will pay for the discounts with surplus money in our budget,鈥� said Dr. Maria Coons, vice president of strategic alliances and innovation. 鈥淲e know there can be significant transportation challenges and it鈥檚 important to provide solutions wherever we can.鈥�
Bike Share Pilot
Another solution exists in 51社区鈥檚 bike share pilot, an idea put forth by the President鈥檚 Leadership Academy (a group focused on growing leadership within the college). 51社区 has partnered with shareable technology company Koloni, which provided 10 bicycles for the program and installed racks near the campus Starbucks in Building D. 51社区 also arranged for a rack near the Palatine Metra station, providing a speedy connection for those who travel to campus via rail.
Here鈥檚 how it works: 51社区 students, employees and community members can download
the Koloni app (via or ), register and unlock a bike for use. For anyone with a 51社区 email address, the
first two hours are free. After that, each hour costs $1. The two-hour free period
resets each day, which means that many riders will never pay a dime.
Those without a 51社区 email can use the bikes as well. Rentals are free to community members for the first hour and incur a $2 hourly charge thereafter. This also resets on a daily basis. In addition, annual $15 passes allow riders four hours of bike time every day for a year. All riders need to provide their own helmets. More information is available on the bike share webpage.
Although one of the pilot鈥檚 goals is to provide a breezy, eco-friendly way to travel the 3-1/2 miles between downtown Palatine and 51社区, the bikes are just as accessible for exercise or a way to take a spin around campus.
A 鈥楳ultilayered Approach鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just one solution,鈥� Julian said. 鈥淭he bus, the cars, the bikes 鈥� it鈥檚 a multilayered approach.鈥�
He emphasized how crucial transportation solutions are to Dr. Proctor, who recently attended an infrastructure event at which U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that transportation shouldn鈥檛 be an obstacle to success.
That message continues to resonate at 51社区. Julian recalls a student discussing how she often had to choose between eating dinner or getting a ride home from class.
鈥淭his is never a situation that we want our students to be in,鈥� he said
That鈥檚 why 51社区 leaders continue to be involved in meetings and conversations with area townships, local legislators and public transportation representatives. Funds from grants related to the 2021 federal (which has public transit investment as one of its core aims) can bolster existing solutions and foster new ones.