News Release

August 9, 2007

Boise State University Enhances Transportation, Offers Free Parking at West Campus in Nampa

Boise State University will offer free parking at the West campus in Nampa, an expanded free shuttle service between the West campus and the main campus, as well as free shuttles from Caldwell, Middleton, Eagle and Star to the main Boise State campus for the 2007-08 academic year.

The free services are available to Boise State students, faculty and staff and begin Aug. 27, the first day of classes for the fall semester. The efforts are designed to help ease expected congestion on the main campus as well as decrease the number of cars that commute.

“Boise State is committed to alternative transportation and statewide efforts for conservation,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “We are taking tangible action to address the transportation concerns in this region. These services will not only reduce congestion on our campus but also contribute to alleviating traffic on our roads and highways, especially the I-84 corridor. We encourage faculty, staff and students to consider this free service between the West and main campuses.”

Shuttles will make 20-plus runs daily beginning from the West campus at 5:35 a.m. and from the main campus beginning at 6:58 a.m., with the last buses running shortly after 9 p.m. when most evening classes finish. In addition, new non-stop express routes have been added between the two campuses, decreasing the commute time to about 25 minutes.

The number of people taking advantage of mass transit at Boise State has increased by about 10 percent during the past academic year, outpacing student growth on campus. About 40 percent of Boise State’s students, faculty and staff live outside of Ada County.

The West campus offers more than 150 courses in the state-of-the-art academic building just north of the Idaho Center in Nampa. Classes in math, English, biology, business and foreign languages, as well as core classes in many disciplines, are available during both the day and evening hours. Students can complete an associate of arts or associate of science degree entirely at the West campus.

“We encourage our students to take another look at the wide West campus academic offerings,” said Mark Wheeler, dean of Extended Studies.

“The West campus offerings are ideal for part-time students,” Wheeler said. “While a future community college may be situated in Nampa, the Boise State West campus is open this fall with a wide variety of academic classes that are convenient and closer for our students who live in the west end of the Treasure Valley.”

An opening date and final details for a community college in the Treasure Valley are still to be determined.

To take advantage of the free bus services, Boise State students, faculty and staff must pick up a free sticker at the parking office or campus ID office in the Student Union. For more information about West campus offerings or the new transportation options, visit www.boisestate.edu/extendedstudies/west.

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Contact: Mark Wheeler, Extended Studies, (208) 426-1140, mwheeler@boisestate.edu; Jared Everett, Parking and Transportation Service, (208) 426-2090, jeverett@boisestate.edu
Media Contact: Sherry Squires, University Communications, (208) 426-1563, ssquires@boisestate.edu

Boise State University celebrates its 75th anniversary this fall. From its founding on Sept. 6, 1932, the institution has evolved from a small church-sponsored college in a downtown schoolhouse to a metropolitan research university of distinction with about 19,000 students. Visit boisestate.edu and click on the “75” button for more information.
 

The Office of Communications and Marketing - Boise State University
1910 University Drive - Boise Idaho 83725-1030
Located in Capitol Village, 2225 W. University Drive
email communications@boisestate.edu

Last reviewed on Monday, August 27, 2007