Marist College is introducing several new transportation and safety measures as the academic year begins. The college will launch its first campus-wide shuttle service, update its parking system, and roll out a new mobile app aimed at improving safety and communication.
The new shuttle service is designed to help students move around campus more easily and to reduce parking congestion. Each shuttle can carry up to 24 passengers and will run on two main routes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Academic Express route is a short loop with stops at 51 Fulton and Beck Lot, Lowell Thomas, and Fontaine, taking about six minutes per circuit. The Marist Loop covers more of the campus perimeter with stops on both east and west campuses, including Lower West Cedar, Marketplace, Tenney Stadium, and McCann Center; this loop takes approximately 16 minutes.
Students will need their Marist ID to use the shuttles. Service begins on August 25, the first day of classes.
A new mobile application called MaristSafe is also being launched for iOS and Android devices. This app allows users to track shuttle locations in real time, access emergency contacts, submit tips or concerns directly to campus security, use virtual walk-home features with location sharing, and receive emergency notifications such as weather-related delays or class cancellations.
Campus parking has also been reorganized following a review that used drone technology for data collection on space usage. Input from students was gathered through focus groups and permit data analysis in partnership with the Student Government Association. As a result:
– Commuters and residents of East Campus must park only in designated East Campus lots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
– Residents of West Campus are required to park exclusively in West Campus lots during those same hours.
“This parking plan provides student residents with ample parking in lots nearest their housing location,” said Gough. “It also provides dedicated parking for commuters with shuttle services to the academic core of campus in just a few short minutes.”
All students who purchase a parking permit are subject to these changes. Students must complete vehicle registration before picking up their decals at Donnelly Hall during office hours.
Additional information about these updates can be found on the college’s FAQ pages for parking, shuttles, and MaristSafe.
