the chronicle
bus from page 1 include a stop at Smith Warehouse, which was primarily serviced by the C-6 last year. The C-1 Class Change bus will also travel to Towerview Drive and Science Drive six times a day between Monday and Friday, replacing the C-3 route that previously ran every 15 minutes. In place of the C-4, the C-2 will extend its hours. Duke employees will also experience some changes. The H-3 bus, which travels between Duke Hospital and Hillsborough Road, no longer operates midday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Furthermore, the H-5, which runs from Broad Street to Hock Plaza on Erwin Road, will now stop at the West Campus bus stop.
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The condensed schedule, which was finalized during the summer, will reduce the department’s work by 7,500 hours and results in $500,000 in savings this year, Veraldi said. The new plan serves to better accommodate students traveling to Central Campus and Smith Warehouse and reduce transportation-related carbon emissions, he added. The new stipulations coincide with Duke’s commitment to its Climate Action Plan, which pledges to achieve climate neutrality in the University by 2024. Students who designed their class schedules factoring in the old bus routes should not find themselves scrambling for rides, Veraldi added. “When you look at the schedule in total, the adjustments students would have
to make... are extremely minimal,” he said. “I don’t think there will be a lot of people whose classes have to change because there are not enough buses.” The University will continue to have drivers on standby and adjust the schedule if needed, Veraldi said. The preliminary version of DuTrack.com, the GPS-based bus tracking site, will also serve to gather information that the department can use. “We can look at the data and decide which stops to nix and which need more boarding time,” he added. “We can adjust some of those routes if needed.” The bus-tracking system uses prepaid Motorola phones installed onto each bus and provides real-time updates on all routes, including the Robertson buses. Duke Student Government awarded a $5,000 Student Development Directive grant to fund the project, said DSG President Mike Lefevre, a senior. Parking and Transportation
supplemented the grant with $10,000. Senior Andrew Brown, who also serves as co-head of mobile development for The Chronicle, also collaborated on the project. He said he plans to alter the program to improve mobile functionality. Brown said in the long-term students should be able to receive text updates about the buses. Eventually, Brown added that he would like to create an algorithm to predict bus arrival times. “It will make it so much more convenient to take the bus, especially for those who live off campus and take the bus less frequently,” he said. “Right now, [DuTrack] is already a huge improvement.” Veraldi said the changes are part of a larger plan to transform the transportation system at Duke. “We’re changing the entire structure of our transit system,” he said. “This is a story that is going to continue. We’re just at the beginning.”
JESUS
He’s the BIG thing at First Baptist Church, Durham. Real relationships. Biblical teaching. A vision for outreach. Sunday Schedule College Bible Study • 9:45 A.M. Worship Service • 11:00 A.M.
First Baptist Church
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While C-1 buses will continue to run between East and West campuses, several other changes in the bus system will take place this year, including the addition of a C-1 Class Change bus to replace the old C-3.
Sunday Van Pick-up West Bus Stop • 9:20 A.M. East Bus Stop • 9:30 A.M.
414 Cleveland St. • Downtown Durham • 688-7308 ext. 22
www.fbcdurham.org • college@fbcdurham.org
Accept the Challenge! Become an America Reads Tutor The America Reads Challenge asks college students to join a national effort to ensure that children can read well and independently by the end of the third grade. Duke America Reads, a volunteer and work-study program, joins this effort by placing tutors in public schools to improve the reading skills of Durham’s youngest children.
Two ways to make a difference:
Volunteer Tutors • Serve as a reading tutor at least one semester for two hours each week. • Attend training sessions led by reading specialists. • Tutor at Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership schools. • Apply to the Duke Center for Civic Engagement - Durham Programs by September 22. Federal Work-Study Tutors • Serve as a reading tutor two semesters for up to six hours each week. • Attend training sessions led by reading specialists. • Receive $13.25 per hour if you’re an undergraduate or $16.25 per hour if you’re a graduate or professional student. • Tutor at Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership schools. • Apply to the Duke Center for Civic Engagement - Durham Programs by September 22. For more information and an application, contact the Duke Center for Civic Engagement - Durham Programs at 684-4377 or http://civicengagement.duke.edu
WHY ACCEPT THE AMERICA READS CHALLENGE? • Nationally, 40% of fourth graders cannot read as well as they should. • Students who cannot read independently by the fourth grade are less likely to complete high school. • Studies find that sustained, individualized attention and tutoring can raise reading levels. • Share the joy of reading. • Make a difference in a child’s life. • Be a role model. • Support local schools. • It’s fun!