In response to student input, Wichita State University will add a second route to its popular free shuttle system for the spring 2014 semester.

The new line, called the “Housing Route,” will include new stops at Fairmount Towers and Wheatshocker Apartments, the two largest residential facilities on the WSU main campus, and at Devlin Hall near 21st Street and Yale.

The Housing Route will begin service on Monday, Jan. 13, and run a 20-minute, on-campus circuit beginning at Fairmount Towers from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Ellen Abbey, financial analyst for administration and finance and auxiliary services manager at WSU, says a number of students gave feedback through the WSU Shuttle System website requesting shuttle service from Fairmount Towers as well as a Perimeter Road loop.

"The goal is to let more students, faculty and staff take advantage of the shuttle system for on-campus transportation without having to make the trip to satellite parking lots at WSU’s Metropolitan Complex (at 29th Street North and Oliver)," Abbey said.

The existing WSU shuttle line, now called the “Metropolitan Complex Route,” will continue to run as before. Each shuttle bus will carry signage to indicate which route it is running.

New stop

Also in response to student input, the university will construct a shuttle stop for both routes in the southwest quadrant of campus. That stop, expected to open midsemester, will be located on Perimeter Road near the Duerksen Fine Arts Center and will serve parking lots along Hillside.

The WSU Shuttle System was launched in August 2013 to provide students, faculty, staff and visitors with an alternative to parking on the main campus. Buses run only on weekdays when classes are in session. The service is not offered on weekends, holidays, or when the university is closed for inclement weather.

The system is run by Wichita-based Overland Charters, which is under contract for three years. The contract provides for six buses — five in operation and one on reserve. The additional route did not require alterations to the existing contract.