New Free Shuttle Service Offered For College Of The Desert Students

PALM DESERT, CA —A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday at College of the Desert to celebrate the launch of the Roadrunner Express, its new shuttle that provides students with free rides between campuses.

The event got underway at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Cravens Student Services Center on the Palm Desert Campus, 43500 Monterey Ave. The community was invited to attend and learn about how the service with others are advancing access to education.

"Many students don't have their own vehicle. They can get a ride to campus, but traveling to other campuses can be difficult. This is another way we are driving home our slogan 'Your Community, Your College,"' Superintendent/President Laura Hope said in a statement. "We want students to feel at home at COD and to feel that they have access to the tools they need to succeed."

The shuttle service will be available to students through their ID cards and will offer transportation to other campuses. The shuttle was offered as a solution to students' repeatedly voiced concerns about transportation during Hope's listening tours.
The Roadrunner Express is set to make three round trips per route Monday through Thursday except for holidays, college officials said. The buses will arrive from the east and west routes as early as 7:45 a.m.

Students will also be able to use the new service in tandem with their SunLine Transit Agency's Haul Pass, according to college officials