A NEW INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITY BEGINS AT RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Press Release - For Immediate Release

Somerville, N.J., September 9, 2002 - Raritan Valley Community College began its Fall 2002 Semester on Wednesday, September 4,2002. This date also marked the début of a new innovativetransportation opportunity at RVCC.

Raritan Valley Community College in collaboration with RideWiseof Raritan Valley-A Division of the Business Partnership ofSomerset County and Barker Bus Company Inc., have undertaken apilot program to link the RVCC-Franklin Center (located at FranklinBlvd & Hamilton Street in Franklin Township) with the MainCampus of RVCC (located in the North Branch section of Branchburg)through the use of a shuttle service. This shuttle will serve as avital link between these two RVCC locations, allowing students fromeither location to access services, programs and events at theother location in a timely and affordable manner.

The Raritan Valley Community College Shuttle, as it will beknown, is a wheel chair accessible, twenty-four passenger bus thatwill serve as a dedicated point-to-point shuttle service for theexclusive use of RVCC students. Students who use this service will be charged a one-dollar fee for each one-way trip. 

The shuttle will be running from the parking lot at the Franklin Center to the bus shelter on the Main Campus of Raritan ValleyCommunity College on the following schedule: Monday-Friday, excluding school breaks & holidays:

The bus used for the Raritan Valley Community College Shuttle isowned and operated by Barker Bus Company, Inc. of Bridgewater.Barker Bus Company was chosen as the provider of this new servicedue in large part to their successful operation of the DASH(Davidson Avenue Shuttle) for the Somerset County TransportationOffice. The DASH service is made possible by the generous supportof the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

RVCC background: 
RVCC, serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for overthirty years, offers over 70 associate degrees and certificates. Inaddition, customized training programs and non-credit courses areavailable for those seeking personal and professional development.

The College is committed to a quality and affordable educationthrough effective teaching, liaisons with the community'sbusinesses and state-of-the-art technology.

RideWise background:
RideWise, A Division of the Business Partnership of Somerset County, works to reduce traffic congestion and make commuting easier by providing free services that help motorists carpool, use mass transit, bike and walk. Our services are available to anyone who works in Somerset County, or any employer in Somerset County.

Barker Bus background: 
Barker Bus Company has been transporting children to and from school and school related activities since 1955. Originally known as Roy Barker Co., it had a fleet of approximately 15 vehicles and serviced schools located in Somerset County. Today, Barker Bus Company has a fleet of over 300 school vehicles and services schooldistricts in Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Union and Essex counties. Barker Bus Company is located at the juncture of Interstate Route 287 and U.S. Highway 22 in Bridgewater, NJ. This facility encompasses a 10,000 square foot office area, a 12 bay repair garage staffed by qualified mechanics as well as a computerized state-of-the-art fueling system. It is also equipped with a modern classroom facility and certified instructors to enhance its comprehensive driver training and safety programs. In addition to daily route work, Barker Bus Company also provides shuttle services for school athletic trips, school field trips,summer camps, corporate and community shuttles. A partial list of our clients include Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, Bedminster Township Board of Education, Middlesex County Educational Services Commission, Somerset County Educational Services Commission, East Amwell Township Board of Education, Camp Cromwell, Rolling Hills Girl Scouts, the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, U.S. Equestrian Team's World Pairs Driving Event and the Gladstone Driving Event as well as the Somerset County 4-H Fair.

http://www.raritanval.edu/franklin/index.html
Updated 9/12/2002 by AKT