DOTS took away Metro bus service to South Campus. RHA wants it back.

Despite the 104 Metro bus ending operation on South Campus after three weeks, the RHA is continuing to propose a route that will help students living on South Campus access the College Park Metro station.

Over the summer, the Department of Transportation Services piloted a revised route that ran from Regents Drive Parking Garage, past the east end of McKeldin Mall, Memorial Chapel and Montgomery Hall, and cut through College Avenue to reach the Metro station. But DOTS canceled it because of complaints about disturbances to the College Park residential area, according to Residence Hall Association Vice President Sasha Galbreath. The bus reverted to its original route, which runs from Regents Drive Parking Garage, around the ‘M’ circle, past Route 1, then onto Campus Drive toward the Metro station.

The route the RHA is currently pushing — which was initially proposed this past spring — runs from Regents Drive Parking Garage, past the east end of McKeldin Mall, Memorial Chapel and Montgomery Hall, then turns left onto Route 1 and right on Campus Drive, Galbreath said.

The RHA is keeping College Park residents in mind, she said, adding that because student demand is high, the RHA will keep pushing for the bus to stop on South Campus while avoiding cutting through the residential areas.

However, DOTS has expressed concerns with the delays on Route 1 that would lengthen the time it takes to complete the bus route, DOTS Director David Allen said. Route 1 traffic could cause the 104 Metro bus to decrease the amount of round trips per day.

“RHA provides good feedback for us,” Allen said. “We are aware of their wishes to make a left on Route 1. Traffic on Route 1 is severe and would increase delays. Those additional headways would be a challenge.”

But for students on South Campus, the reinstallment of the old route inhibits them from traveling to Washington and other destinations with ease.

“There definitely should be a stop for the [104] Metro bus on South Campus, especially since it’s older people who live down there,” junior environmental science and technology major Whitney Jarrett said. “They have internships, jobs; they have more money and time to go down to D.C. and spend it, so there should be a stop there.”

Sophomore accounting major Catie Denz does not take the Metro often, but said she sees the need for a South Campus stop for other students as well.

“If someone was commuting … they might need that to be more convenient,” Denz said.

The RHA Transportation Advisory Committee, which deals with issues concerning transportation such as buses and parking, will address any concerns with the bus route once the committee reconvenes in early October. The committee is made up of RHA Senate members and addresses the transportation needs of on-campus students.

The committee contributes input on bus routes and introduction of new bus lines.

“RHA will be working with the Graduate Student Government, SGA and David Allen to find a happy medium,” Galbreath said.

While Allen said DOTS’ current plan is to “keep the previous configuration of the route,” it still intends to work with the RHA.

“We certainly will talk more with RHA to hear their thoughts on how to combat that problem,” Allen said.