The Landmark Shuttle, launched on January 3, has a growing fan base of HSPH members who have halved their commute time between Landmark Center and the main campus by using the van. HPH NOW caught up with a few riders on a cold day in January.
"Walking over to the Kresge Building can be odious," said Pamela Waterman, project director for the Public Health Disparities Geocoding Project. Her office is in Landmark Center. "If the weather is poor, you may have to walk through mud or on ice, in the rain or snow. In the past, you really had to consider whether it was worth the inconvenience and time to make the trip. I think the shuttle is fabulous, and I'd like to thank the people who made it happen."
The shuttle resulted from the efforts of the Landmark Representative Group, Operations, and the Dean's Office.
The shuttle runs a continual loop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and makes stops at the Landmark Center, Vanderbilt Hall, and 651 Huntington Avenue (FXB Building). Landmark passengers board near the AMC Fenway Movie Theater.
MPH student Maki Shimaya makes the trip from 651 Huntington Avenue to the Landmark Center once a day. She said that she feels safer taking the shuttle instead of walking, particularly when it gets dark. (A popular path to Landmark Center cuts through a small wooded area). "The shuttle is quite nice, and the drivers are so friendly," said Shimaya.
Ray Kelly serves as the driver during the morning shift. His colleague, Pat Chaplin, takes over around 1:20 p.m. Both are employees of the Paul Revere Transportation company, contracted through MASCO to provide the shuttle service. HSPH pays a fee for the service, although passengers ride free of charge. All passengers must present a valid HSPH or HMS identification card.
David Shelton, a technician in Media Services, was the first passenger ever on the shuttle. His schedule requires him to go to the Landmark Center twice per week to check on equipment, typically traveling there first thing in the morning and then walking to his office in the Kresge Building. On bad weather days, he used to hop on the M2 shuttle or the #47 bus to get as close as possible to the Kresge Building. Now, the shuttle takes him practically door to door.
Copyright, 2009, President and Fellows of Harvard College
