Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

St. John's University in Queens, NY, has reinstated its campus shuttle service after a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shuttle service is now fully operational and features improvements such as fixed schedules, real-time vehicle tracking, and drivers who are Public Safety officers.

Hannah Atkinson, a junior living off-campus at Henley Road Residence, appreciates the structure provided by the schedule. "It’s more or less effortless," she said. Nyah Gibbs, a senior also residing at Henley, added that the shuttle makes her feel connected to the campus community.

Before the pandemic, an external company managed bus services to nearby transit stations. These services were sometimes unreliable, especially in bad weather. With the return of shuttle services post-pandemic, St. John's University purchased two new 15-seat passenger vans and gave Public Safety direct control over operations.

Officer Jimmy Carroll drives one of these shuttles and emphasizes the importance of having a reliable schedule: "It’s important that the students know where we are and when."

The university operates two separate shuttles: one for campus routes from 6:45 a.m. to 1:45 a.m., and another connecting to Jamaica LIRR station and F train stops with morning and afternoon schedules. On weekends, an evenings-only route begins at gate six.

Jason T. Bartlett, Ph.D., Director of Residence Life, encourages students to use the shuttle for exploring New York City affordably: "We want students to skip the Uber and use the shuttle."

Students like Justin Lyles benefit from this free service by using their StormCard. He feels safe using it even late at night for meals on his meal plan.

Patrick Wing, Director of Public Safety, notes that most students do not have cars and rely on shuttles for convenience and safety: "If students are on campus studying until 2 a.m., we want them to have a safe ride back."

The LiveSafe app allows live tracking of shuttles during operating hours with an almost perfect on-time record essential for students commuting to internships in Manhattan or Brooklyn.

Shuttle ridership remains high year-round but may increase during colder months. Public Safety aims to provide additional shuttles when needed to ensure punctuality for classes.