Fresno State relaunched its free shuttle service, the Bulldog Express, giving students, faculty and staff a safe and convenient way to travel to, from and around campus.
The shuttle will operate Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and Fridays from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. with stops occurring approximately every 15 minutes. Students, faculty and staff can ride for free by presenting their Bulldog ID Card.
According to Derek Brantley, Fresno State’s parking and transportation manager, the shuttle ceased operations in Spring 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the significant operational and financial impacts at the time, he said the university made the difficult decision to suspend the program.
However, the recent student fee increase was able to provide $950,000 in funds needed to bring back and operate the Bulldog Express.
Shuttle stops include Bulldog Lane, Millbrook Avenue, Campus Drive (near the North Gym), the Save Mart Center parking lot and Campus Pointe. A map can be found here.
New bus stop signage has been placed at each stop to direct students and staff.
When determining shuttle stops and routes, Brantley said off-campus housing and traffic near campus were taken into consideration.
“The routes were developed around the campus’ existing roadway and parking infrastructure, focusing on student housing areas to the east and west, while enhancing access to key destinations like Campus Pointe,” Brantley said. “The Save Mart Center stop helps ease parking and traffic congestion and improves accessibility for those with disabilities.”
Marisah Ruiz, a double major in criminology and sociology, is one of the students who started utilizing the shuttle service.
Ruiz is a student assistant at the Social Science Advising Center located in the McKee Fisk building on campus and a resident of Palazzo apartments at Campus Pointe. She previously walked to and from each location, which she estimates takes roughly 30 minutes.
“It’s kind of a long walk, especially now in the coming seasons when it’s getting colder and when it starts raining,” Ruiz said. “So I was like, I’m just going to start taking the shuttle and so far, it’s been really great.”
She has noticed a lack of ridership so far, which is why she has been encouraging her friends to take advantage of the service since it is free and stops at convenient locations on and near campus.
Ruiz believes the Campus Pointe shuttle stop is great because it will make it easier for students to visit the variety of restaurants and the movie theater there before, in between or after classes.
According to an email sent by University Communications, a real-time vehicle tracking app with live arrival estimates is coming soon. Brantley said this feature will be available by the start of next semester.
Once launched, shuttle vehicles will feature GPS tracking and passengers will be able to view shuttle locations and arrival times through a mobile app.
Brantley confirmed that the Bulldog Express will run next semester, as there is now a long-term agreement in place.
