By Regina Minaya
Everyone knows Staten Island is the “forgotten borough”. As we barrel into the fall semester, and students navigate the demands of academic life, a significant barrier looms large: inadequate public transportation. The lack of adequate transportation is affecting punctuality, creates accessibility concerns, and ultimately impacts student success.
One of the most pressing issues is the overcrowding of buses entering our campus. Students often find themselves crammed into buses, standing shoulder to shoulder, sometimes even watching buses packed well beyond safe occupancy pass by as the minutes tick down until classes start.
The wait times for transfers can be excruciatingly long, sometimes exceeding hours. This not only causes frustration but also leads to students being late for classes, missing exams, and leads to less time being able to focus on their academic needs.
For students residing on the North Shore, the situation is even more daunting. They are forced to walk 15 minutes between stops just to reach campus. This additional burden makes commuting a daily struggle and adds unnecessary stress to their already busy schedules.
The consequences of these transportation woes extend beyond mere inconvenience. The unreliable system has dampened students’ enthusiasm for attending classes regularly. This lack of motivation can have a ripple effect, potentially impacting graduation rates as students struggle to keep up with coursework due to transportation-related delays.
In 2009, the college introduced a shuttle service that significantly eased transportation challenges for a portion of students. However, the grant which initially helped fund this service was lost in 2015. After that, the burden of the cost was transferred to the student activity fee.
During last year’s referendum, students made the difficult decision to no longer allow for an earmarking for the shuttle. Rising transportation costs meant that the funding model was no longer sustainable. The shuttle also didn’t meet the needs of all of the students with a ridership that amounted to an estimated 5-10% of the student body leaving students in communities like Todt Hill and Mariners Harbour in the lurch. Its absence is keenly felt by students who once relied on it for a smoother commute.
With the recent article in the SI Live, this has once again become a topic of conversation on campus and in the larger community. Many people have called for the reinstatement of the ferry shuttle. However, it is time to shift that dialog. Instead of demanding half-measures that don’t serve the needs of all of our community and leaving that burden on the students, it is time to demand that the MTA fulfill its mission statement and “…improve the quality of life and economic health of the region it serves by providing safe, reliable, and clean transportation services.”
To address these pressing issues, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) must step up its efforts. Improving routes and increasing service frequency are crucial steps toward meeting the needs of our student body. By doing so, the MTA can help alleviate some of the burdens faced by students and contribute to their academic success. Addressing these public transportation challenges is vital for fostering an environment where students can thrive academically without being hindered by logistical barriers. It is time for all stakeholders to collaborate and find sustainable solutions that prioritize student needs.
