AACC over the summer closed the 30-year-old footbridge that connects the west and east sides of the Arnold campus for repairs.
The bridge will remain closed all semester.
During routine maintenance, workers found deterioration in the bridge’s support system. The bridge will remain closed until the structure of the walkway is rebuilt.
“I think it’s a bit of an inconvenience for students who have classes on West Campus and East Campus, like, in times close together in their schedule,” Matilda Marinello, a first-year undecided student, said. “But it’s very nice that AACC has provided shuttle buses.”
AACC offers two free shuttle buses to transport students, faculty and staff between the east and west campuses. Students can also walk the detour route that runs alongside West Campus Drive.
Vice President for Learning Resources Management Melissa Beardmore said she chose the company CharterUP’s shuttle buses because of their accessibility. The buses the college owns do not have wheelchair lifts, she said.
“In the back [of the buses] there’s a wheelchair lift to make them accessible,” Beardmore said of the contracted buses.
The buses will run Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and will stop at the entrance to the footbridge, the math building, the Careers Center, and between the Cade Center for Fine Arts and Florestano.
Connor Graham, a first-year computer science student, said he did not have a good experience using the bus when trying to get to class.
“I had a class and I was waiting for [a shuttle bus] … for about probably close to five or eight minutes and it never showed up, so I just figured I’d walk,” Graham said. He added, “I think it would make more sense if they had set schedules … just so that they could be more consistent.”
Deneen Dangerfield, the dean of student development, said riders can expect a 10- to 15-minute wait for the bus.
“I think for students or faculty who may need transportation to either side of campus … I think the buses will be very reliable,” Dangerfield said.