University Transit Service (UTS) began in 1972, when fifteen student drivers started a pilot program with four rented buses at the University of Virginia

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...

 (UVA) in Charlottesville, Virginia. Today, UTS has a fleet of more than 30 buses and 140 drivers serving the UVA community. UTS serves more than 3 million passengers per year and traverses the University of Virginia Central Grounds, University of Virginia Health System

University of Virginia Health System

The University of Virginia Health System is a nationally renowned healthcare provider based in Charlottesville, Virginia and associated with the University of Virginia. The health system includes a medical center, school of medicine and health sciences library...

, and housing areas. UTS also provides chartered services for public and private events.

History of UTS

The University Transit Bus System began in 1972 at the same time as the introduction of parking fees at UVA. The bus system alleviated parking congestion on the Central Grounds and provided an alternative to individual car usage.

The first fleet consisted of four rented buses, but these were replaced by UTS' own fleet in November 1972. From the start, students provided most of the work force (15 students and 3 full-time drivers). At first, service was provided Monday-Friday 7:30am–12:30am, with the first route running from Copeley Hill Apartments to Scott Stadium. A gate preventing access to the University Law School was removed in order to allow for bus traffic. Eventually, service was expanded to include the Rugby/Grady neighborhood, a popular student housing area. Charter services were available from UTS’ first days of operation.

In 1972, bus passes were required and cost $7.50 per semester. Students had to purchase these passes separately from parking permits. On the first full day of service, 3,300 passengers rode the new University buses. UTS provided additional equipment to accommodate standing passengers.

In 1979, the service was extended to include a weekend service after a student referendum to raise the comprehensive transportation fee by $5. By March 1979, UTS had three routes and 16 buses. Talks began in 1979 concerning the combination of UTS and CTS.

Routes

The University Transit Service designed routes based on thorough research to provide specific service to diverse groups of passengers. The following are the seven University Transit Service routes:

• Northline Connector
• University Loop
• Green Route
• Stadium Hospital Shuttle (SHS)
• Central Grounds Shuttle (CGS)
• Special Route
• Colonnade Shuttle
• Hereford/I.R.C. Express (HXP)

Types of service

The University Transit Service operates at different service levels dependant on the needs of the students and staff who use the service and the availability of various campus access points.

Charters

The University Transit Service offers Charter Services to accommodate the special transportation needs of various academic groups and affiliates of the University of Virginia. UTS Charters also participates heavily in major events at the University of Virginia such as Graduation, home football and basketball games, and the annual Foxfield Races

Foxfield Races

The Foxfield Race is a steeplechase race that originated in 1978 and is held twice annually in Albemarle County, Virginia, approximately eight miles northwest of downtown Charlottesville. It is a popular tradition for much of the community as well as students of the University of Virginia and...

.

Connecting transit services

University Transit Service (UTS) works closely with Charlottesville Area Transit and JAUNT. The University provides an annual subsidy for the Charlottesville Free Trolley Route that connects the downtown mall with Central Grounds. Recently the University signed an agreement with the city to provide a subsidy to allow employees and students with UVA Identification, free transit on city buses. This open ridership program allows access to the newly restored Greyhound and Union Station on West Main Street, encouraging more people to travel by bus and rail. About 16 percent of the Charlottesville’s city bus riders display UVA identification cards.

Fleet Information

The current fleet consists of the following vehicles:

Unit	Year/Make	Height	Length	Width	Weight (Tons)	Wheel Chair Lift
8138	1988 Orion I	10'	35'	8'	11	None
1137 1237 1337 1437	1991 Orion I	10'	35'	8'	11	Front
2136 2236 2336 2436 2536	1995 Gillig Phantom Gillig Phantom The Gillig Phantom was a transit bus produced by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California. The Phantom was first introduced in late 1980 and, with the exception of a small number of buses built in a three-year-long joint venture with Neoplan from 1977 to 1979, was Gillig's first transit bus...	10'	35'	8'	13.5	Front
3136	1995 Blue Bird	10'	37'	8'	13	Rear
7020 7420	1996 Ford Startrans	9'3"	29'	9'	5	Rear
2636	2000 Gillig Phantom	10'	35'	8'	13.5	Front
2736 2836 2936	2001 Gillig Phantom	10'	35'	8'	13.5	Front
6136 6236 6336	2003 Gillig Phantom	10'	35'	8'	13.5	Front
6436 6536 6636	2004 Gillig Phantom	10'	35'	8'	13.5	Front
5136 5236 5336 5436 5536	2006 Gillig Phantom	10'	35'	8'	13.5	Front
9032 9132 9232	2007 Gillig Low Floor Gillig Low Floor The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...	10'2"	35'	8'5"	13	Front
9332 9432	2009 Gillig Low Floor	10'2"	35'	8'5"	13	Front
3252	2009 Setra Setra Setra is a Neu-Ulm, Germany-based manufacturer of commercial buses and touring coaches, and recently a subsidiary of Daimler AG.The name "Setra" comes from "Selbsttragend"...  417	12'8"	46'	8'5"	13	Rear

Administration

The University Transit Service employs full-time and part-time non-student drivers, but UVA students make up the majority of its work force. The students are required to undergo a rigorous training process that satisfies the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is the governmental agency responsible for registering and titling automobiles and other motor vehicles as well as licensing drivers in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Motor vehicle registration:...

' requirement for a Commercial Driver's License

Commercial driver's license

A Commercial Driver's License is a driver's license required in the United States to operate any type of vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 lb or more for commercial use, or transports quantities of hazardous materials that require warning placards under Department of...

and teaches them the different routes at UVA. Three official training classes are offered throughout the year during January, May, and August, although in times of driver shortage new drivers can be trained one on one or in small groups throughout the semester. All of the new driver training is performed by current UTS drivers who are selected before the beginning of the training class to be trainers. Training is overseen by a Training Coordinator who is also a current driver and is selected for the task before each training session.

Student Management

Each year four student supervisors are chosen from current drivers who apply. Although they are called 'student' supervisors, these supervisors manage all drivers that are currently on the road while they are on duty, whether they are student drivers, wage drivers, or full-time drivers. Each supervisor is assigned days of the week to be 'on duty', during which time they deal with driver and route problems as they present themselves. The supervisors head four committees: Safety, Public Relations, Recruitment and Retention, and New Initiatives.

Supervisor Training

Unlike becoming a new driver, there are no training classes for becoming a supervisor. New supervisors are instead taught on the job for a few weeks by the supervisors from the previous year. The previous supervisor acts only in a mentoring capacity and generally does not directly supervise drivers during this time.

Budget

The University Transit Service budget consists of several components: the Mandatory Comprehensive Transportation Fee of $144 (as of the 2008-2009 academic year), UVA Health System funding, University Heights Apartments transportation fee, and charter services.