Free COLTS Bus Service for Students, Faculty and Staff Begins Jan. 9

University of Scranton students, faculty and staff can ride any of the COLTS bus service routes for free beginning Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, by showing a valid Royal Card ID. The University’s contract with County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) for this new COLTS Campus Connections program includes all 31 bus routes, as well as a new COLTS Saturday evening shuttle service from the DeNaples Center to downtown Scranton, the Viewmont Mall and Dickson City locations. The University is underwriting the cost of the additional route.

“The extensive COLTS network will give our campus community access to shopping, dining, entertainment, attractions and other area colleges,” said Edward Steinmetz, vice president for finance/treasurer at The University of Scranton. “It will also provide transportation options for internships, community service and employment.”

COLTS bus routes run throughout Lackawanna County and include service to areas of Scranton, Clarks Summit, Carbondale, North Pocono, Old Forge and other towns. The additional Saturday evening shuttle service is available to the general public as well.

“We are very excited to begin this expanded relationship with The University of Scranton. Obviously this is a great benefit to students, who will be able to get around our entire service area at no cost to them,” said Bob Fiume, executive director at COLTS. “We also see this as a way to encourage students to patronize local businesses, and for all of us to help the environment. This is a win-win for everyone.”

The Saturday evening COLTS shuttle service will use a 20-passenger minibus with a wheelchair lift. It will be an open-door route with all riders accepted. The service will run from 5 p.m. on Saturdays to 1 a.m. on Sundays with stops at the DeNaples Center, North Washington Avenue and Spruce Street, the Marquee Cinema, the Viewmont Mall, Target, Walmart (Dickson City), the Imax Theater, The Mall at Steamtown, and North Washington Avenue and Linden Street. COLTS buses stop at two locations on the University’s campus: in front of the fitness center on Mulberry Street and Monroe Avenue; and at the DeNaples Center entrance on Mulberry Street. Both stops are marked by signs bearing the COLTS logo. Those wishing to use COLTS should signal to the driver as the bus approaches the stop. The bus will not stop unless signaled.

Students, faculty and staff using the free service will be required to show a valid Royal Card when boarding the bus.

General information about the COLTS Campus Connections program can be found at www.scranton.edu/transportation. 

Schedules will be available at the DeNaples Center, as well as online at www.coltsbus.com.  

The free service expands an earlier partnership The University of Scranton established with COLTS that provided students, faculty and staff with free transportation weekdays between Marywood University and The Mall at Steamtown, as well as evening service to the Viewmont Mall and several shopping centers.