Escort Service implements minor changes

Escort Service has extended its "Campus Loop" service up to 34th and Market streets, and switched from a van to a mini-school bus in response to recent crimes and increased demand, Manager of Transportation Services Ron Ward said. Ward said ridership has increased 50 percent for the month of October over last year at the same time, and another 33 percent since the year before that. "We run to capacity seven days a week," he said. The Loop will now travel down 36th street, turn east on Market Street, and return south on 34th Street, passing the subway stop for the Market-Frankford El at 34th and Market streets. The Loop will also pass the parking lot at 34th and Chestnut street, the site of October's abduction and robbery of a 25-year-old College of General Studies student. Ward said the Loop extension is part of the University's response to the incident. He said the School of Arts and Sciences requested the extension. Walking Escort has also been extended to Market Street, Ward said. "Now people can safely travel to the parking lots." Ward said the larger Loop bus will be able to accommodate up to 36 people. "Sometimes there's only a few people riding [the Loop], and sometimes there's a lot," he said. "We wanted to make sure we could accommodate everyone in one trip." The only problem with the increase in usage of the Escort Service, Ward said, is a lack of personnel. He said the department has trouble getting enough students to work, especially on weekends. One casualty of the extended campus service are plans to extend routes to areas of town such as Center City east of 20th Street and the South Street area. Those plans are on indefinite hold, he said. This summer, Escort extended one of its routes eastward, but Ward said the trial run was unsuccessful and was discontinued. "When [the University] first started Escort Service, the basic purpose was to provide safe transportation to and from study areas on campus," he said.