Ñý¼§Ö±²¥

MISSOULA – The Associated Students of the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ Transportation Office and UM announce that the Out to Lunch and Clark Fork River shuttle service will not operate this summer due to bus operator staffing shortages. 
            ASUM Transportation leaders arrived at this decision after a thorough evaluation of available resources, staffing levels and impacts to both staff and community services.
            “We simply do not have enough student bus operators available this summer to offer continuous weeks of multiday service to meet the community needs,” said Vickie Rectenwald, director of ASUM Transportation. “Our team has discussed at length what options we might have. Regrettably, there is no alternative option that would alleviate an unacceptable amount of strain on UDASH staff.”
            ASUM Transportation operates the UDASH bus services, which are free to Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ and members of the public.
            ASUM Transportation student operators provide safe, friendly and efficient bus service during the academic year. This unique staffing model, while beneficial during the school year, poses challenges for summer service continuity. Many existing student drivers have summer obligations that include pharmacy rotations, seasonal U.S. Forest Service jobs, business internships and summer courses.

Despite the suspension of the shuttles, ASUM Transportation will remain active with several other commitments. These include providing shuttle services for campus partners such as the Mansfield Center, UM Summer and the Schwanke Institute and the Global Engagement Office. Additionally, ASUM will host a monthlong Commercial Driver’s License training course in August to train additional bus operators. ASUM Transportation will also prepare for a busy August with new student orientation and Washington-Grizzly stadium concert shuttles.
            Rectenwald said as the campus transportation unit plans for the future of its operations, the popular river shuttle will be a priority service to consider readopting when resources are more abundant.
            "It is unfortunate that we won’t be able to provide direct service for river recreation this summer, but we will continue to honor our mission statement by promoting safe, sustainable and equitable transportation options for the campus community,” Rectenwald said. “We would like to thank all of our partners who have supported our river shuttle and Out to Lunch services over the past years.”
            UDASH’s fixed route bus services will begin again the first day of the fall semester, Aug. 26. For more information about ASUM Transportation and its services to UM and the Missoula community, visit udash.org.