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CPP NEWS

Bronco Shuttle Geared to Serve Growing Campus

The Bronco Shuttle supplanted the old campus tram in 2003.

Bronco Shuttle, the easiest way to get around Cal Poly Pomona, is a modern bus system for a growing campus.

Since it supplanted the old campus tram in 2003, the free shuttle system has steadily improved and added new features. It now has three routes that ferry riders from even the most far-flung parts of campus to convenient locations near their classes or offices. The average wait time between buses is 12-14 minutes.

"The Bronco shuttle is geared to bring everybody to the heart of campus regardless of whether you're student, staff or faculty," says Mike Biagi, director of Parking & Transportation services.

This year, two more buses were added to the system because "the number of people riding the buses has increased" and the campus is experiencing greater vehicle traffic on its roadways," Biagi says.

The system has also become more high-tech. Seven years ago, the university unveiled a GPS tracking system that allowed riders to see wait times at any shuttle stop on campus. That system features digital signs displaying wait times at select stops. Since not all stops have those signs, an online tracking system was created. There is a Bronco Shuttle website with a dynamic map showing the location of each shuttle on its route in real time, and it's integrated with the university's app for mobile devices, CPP Mobile.

Biagi says other features include:

  • It's free: "I often ask students why they don't ride the shuttle and they say I don't want to pay. They don't seem to know it doesn't cost them anything to ride."
  • Service to both overflow lots until 10:30 p.m.: "So students who park in those lots will have access late into the night."
  • Stops at campus attractions: "If you want to go over to Brew Works for lunch, ride shuttle route A. Shuttle Route B goes to the Farm Store."
  • New, clean shuttles: "The buses are only one year old and they're very, very nice."
  • Connection to regional public transit: "Route C bus is our connection to Foothill Transit. The stop that connects is right near the walkway in Parking Structure 2. It connects to the stop at Temple and South Campus, which serves lines 190, 194, 195, 480, 289, 482 and 486."

To Biagi, riding the Bronco Shuttles is a no-brainer.

"Anyone should find them convenient." he says. "The students that I have talked to enjoy the service."