By: Brandi Jewett, Grand Forks Herald
Northland Community and Technical College students will be able to travel back and forth between the school’s two campuses without burning their own gas this year. The school and Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Inc. announced they are once again partnering to provide NCTC students, faculty and staff with a free shuttle bus service for the 2012-213 school year.
The bus will run between the college’s East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls campuses.
According to Steve Crittenden, dean of student development, around 20 to 25 people use the bus service each week.
“It’s a good start to the program,” he said. “The buses do have the capacity for more.”
Now in its third year, the bus service is part of the school’s initiative to become more environmentally friendly and alleviate the financial burdens of its commuting students.
“We have students that wouldn’t be attending our school if this service didn’t exist,” Crittenden said.
Two buses are available for use by the Northland campuses. Community members can also use the service for a small fee.
In the mornings, bus No. 1 will leave the East Grand Forks campus at 6:45 a.m., travel to NCTC aerospace campus and arrive at the Thief River Falls main campus at 8 a.m.
Bus No. 2 will depart from the Thief River Falls main campus at 6:45 a.m., travel to the aerospace campus and arrive at the East Grand Forks campus by 8 a.m.
In the afternoons, bus No. 1 will leave the East Grand Forks campus at 4:30 p.m. and arrive at the Thief River Falls campus by 5:30 p.m.
Bus No. 2 will depart from the Thief River Falls aerospace campus at 4:15 p.m., travel to the Thief River Falls main campus, depart from the TRF main campus at 4:30 p.m. and arrive at the East Grand Forks campus by 5:30 p.m.
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Call Jewett at (701) 780-1108; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1108; or send email to bjewett@gfherald.com.