Transporation link designed to enhance access to higher education for Boston residents and Hub internship opportunities for UMass Dartmouth students
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), in coordination with transportation bus company DATTCO Inc., today announced new round-trip weekday bus service from UMass Dartmouth to Boston, beginning March 3. The new service is part of the BusPlus program, a new public/private partnership set to increase intercity and commuter transportation across Massachusetts and New England.
UMass Dartmouth and DATTCO are discussing expanding the Boston service to weekends, and opening new routes other cultural and commerce centers such as Providence, New York, Washington, and Worcester.
"Linking UMass Dartmouth to Boston will make it even more convenient for our student to travel to internship opportunities and to cultural and entertainment options while also making it easier for our Boston students to return home to see their families," UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman said. "We look forward to new conversations with the Department of Transportation and DATTCO to further expand the UMass Dartmouth- to -Boston schedule and open new routes to cultural and business hubs such like Providence and New York."
UMass Dartmouth currently enrolls 617 students who call Greater Boston home. In addition, the university has established substantive partnerships with public agencies and private businesses, in Boston, including State Street Corporation, Fidelity Investments, and Bank of America, providing valuable internship for students.
"This new bus program demonstrates that UMass Dartmouth is dedicated to doing all it can in supporting students' dreams and career aspirations," said UMass Dartmouth senior Human Resources Management major Joshua Encarnacion, who interned at State Street as an undergraduate. "Whether it's investment in a new building, a new program, or making easier for students to travel home or to a new opportunity, the end result will be that we as students will flourish."
The MassDOT and DATTCO Inc. partnership establishes a new layer to campus transportation services already provided by the university. The Corsair Shuttle provides transportation around campus in addition to the Route 6 "Retail Route" and to UMass Law. The Loop bus provides transportation from the main campus to the UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts in downtown New Bedford. The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority's (SRTA) service also provides transportation throughout Greater New Bedford and Fall River, including to UMass Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). Additionally, UMass Dartmouth has a partnership with car sharing provider, Zipcar, allowing members of the UMass Dartmouth community to reserve a car by the hour or by the day.
"The establishment of a transportation link between UMass Dartmouth and Boston will provide university students greater access to educational opportunities and internships," said State Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). "It also opens the door for additional partnerships and collaborations between the University and Boston area organizations. Our efforts to broaden the reach of UMass Dartmouth will not only benefit the students but also the entire SouthCoast area."
"It is important UMass Dartmouth students know that their hard work in the classroom will pay off and open doors on the SouthCoast, in Boston, and beyond," said State Representative Christopher M. Markey (D-Dartmouth). "I am proud, that in our role as legislators, we in turn are doing all we can to pave the road for our students, helping them achieve the successes they work so hard for, regardless of where those opportunities take them."
"The BusPlus program is an example of public and private entities coming together for a common goal of improving a service vital to the future of the Commonwealth and its citizens," offered State Representative William M. Straus (D--Mattapoisett), who serves as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation. "The new, state-of-the-art vehicles provided through this partnership give a leg up to the students and entrepreneurs on the SouthCoast and across Massachusetts. It is a signal to small and large businesses everywhere that Massachusetts is committed to creating a pathway that connects its job seekers with job creators."
The UMass Dartmouth stop -- located at the front entrance to the campus - will be part of a route that includes Fairhaven, New Bedford, Mount Pleasant, Taunton, and Boston.
For the MassDOT and DATTCO Inc. announcement, click here.