"The measure of a Life is its Service."
Service for Sam Houston State University’s “Sam Shuttle” will be terminated on May 15 with regular service taking place through that day, according to Vice President for Enrollment Management Heather Crowson.
“We are in negotiations about service for the fall semester. We will continue to explore options to maintain the service. A decision about whether or not the shuttle service will resume in the fall will be made by mid-June,” Crowson said.
Refunds on any tickets will be made at the Cashier’s Office in the Estill Building on campus through the end of May.
The shuttle began service for SHSU between Huntsville and The Woodlands on Aug. 18, 2008, with a partnership between the university and Brazos Transit District.
The service was promoted as a way to save money and gas and provide a time for studying, reading or making plans for the day.
When the service began, the national average gas prices per gallon were $3.69 for regular and $4.15 for diesel. However, when Hurricane Ike hit Texas, the oil refineries in the Gulf Coast were not as severely damaged as anticipated, and gas prices fell.
Currently, the shuttle is averaging less than 100 passengers a day. To be efficient, the bus needs to transport 273 passengers a day.
SHSU had entered into the contract for the service with Brazos Transit District along with several partners including The City of Conroe, The City of Shenandoah, The Lone Star College System, and The Woodlands Township. According to Brazos Transit District, three of the partners have decided to withdraw their financial support because of low ridership.
“Although Sam Houston State University and the Lone Star System remain committed to the service, there are not sufficient funds for us to continue the service at this time,” Crowson said.
“If a decision is made to resume the service for the fall semester, we will advertise and market the service in plenty of time for those who are interested to make arrangements,” she said.
“We remain committed that the shuttle service is in the best interest of the faculty, staff and students of Sam Houston State University, as well as the environment,” she said.
“We apologize to those members of the SHSU community that support the Sam Shuttle and their ridership, and hope to resume the service in the near future.”
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SHSU Media Contacts: Julia May
May 7, 2009
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Brian Domitrovic, assistant professor of history, appeared on Book TV (C-SPAN) May 1-2, speaking about his recent book "Econoclasts: The Rebels Sparked the Supply Side Revolution and Restored American Prosperity" (www.econoclasts.net).
Houston Chronicle education writer Jeannie Kever recently turned to Regents Professor of English Paul Ruffin for his views on university presses moving toward "digital books" as opposed to traditional ink-on-paper."We're fulfilling the ancient role of the university press, and that is to produce books," said Paul Ruffin, the Texas poet laureate for 2009 and director of the Texas Review Press at Sam Houston State University. "I don't want to give up the book because it is an art."
Monday, May 3
Tuesday, May 4
"The measure of a Life is its Service."