SGA-MMC shares updates on shuttle to Publix supermarket

 

Written by: Ariana Ramsundar / Contributing Writer

As a school of mostly commuter students, a distinct 8 percent of the students at FIU face the challenge of finding ways to get to the grocery store.

In the spring of 2016, SGA implemented a pilot program to help residential students make the commute. The program consisted of buses that would run on Sundays for a four-hour period, taking students from residential housing to Publix and back.

“I think it was a good idea, because I usually walk to Publix, so when there were a lot of things to carry the tram would come in handy,” said Dionne Grundy, a junior accounting major.

Since the program came to an end, Grundy, like many other students, reverted to walking to get their groceries every week.

“Since I live in University Apartments, walking to publix isn’t much of an inconvenience. But if I have a lot of things or heavy things I have to take an Uber which adds up in the long run,” said Grundy.

However, as the semester came to a close so did the program.

“When I was speaker of SGA Senate we wanted to give the students access to go to the Publix across the street,” said Alian Collazo, MMC’s current student government president. “We were able to reallocate the funds from the money left in the contingency for MMC spring 2016. The program was funded for spring semester, but we knew that we would not have the money to do it every semester.”

Collazo mentioned that, for the moment, the transportation to and from Publix for residential students is not available, but they’re always looking for solutions.

“We are working on a sustainable way to implement the program, so it is not based on whether extra funds are available or not,” said Collazo.

Collazo expanded on the plan to actualize a long lasting program, explaining the current work taking place to ensure that the students have access to a transportation system.

“We are now in conversation with parking and transportation to facilitate a more sustained and reliable way for students residing on campus,” said Collazo. “The Sweetwater Trolley is being integrated into the university system. We are working with them to see if they are willing to make the stops.”

The use of the Sweetwater Trolley could provide more students with seats to Publix, a problem Grundy says she experienced while using the program last spring.

“I know a lot of students used to use the buses. That was sometimes the problem, the tram was only so big for the amount of students who wanted to use it. On the first day there was about sixty students using the program. I would really like to see the program return I think that a lot of students benefited from the program,” said Grundy.

In addition to trying to get service to the Publix shopping center, SGA is also working on extending the program so that students can use the Sweetwater Trolley already makes stops at Dolphin Mall, SGA would like students to be able to utilize this resource.

SGA met with the mayor of Doral on Tuesday, Feb. 7 to discuss integrating the transportation system of Doral to allow students to go to more businesses in Doral as well.

By utilizing the Sweetwater Trolley and the CATS shuttle, SGA is planning to extend the two stops to 10 stops and identify days and times for maximum student useage.

Freshman nursing student Kelly Woza was not attending the University at the time, but expressed her personal experience getting groceries.

“I am not from Miami, so I want to be taken back and forth and know that I am okay. I normally walk back and forth to and from Publix at least once a week, and crossing 107th Street is dangerous sometimes,” said Woza. “Since I live on campus finding a ride can be difficult, so walking is my only option for going to get groceries. I think this program would beneficial to students and would be much safer that how we currently commute.”

 

Photo courtesy of Flickr