Marist College is introducing new transportation and safety features as the academic year begins. The college will debut its first campus-wide shuttle service, aimed at improving campus mobility and reducing parking congestion. Each shuttle accommodates up to 24 passengers and operates on two routes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Academic Express route offers a six-minute loop with stops at 51 Fulton and Beck Lot, Lowell Thomas, and Fontaine. The Marist Loop covers a larger perimeter of the campus, stopping at locations including Lower West Cedar, Marketplace, Tenney Stadium, and McCann Center, with the full loop taking approximately 16 minutes. The shuttles begin service on August 25, coinciding with the start of classes. Riders must present their Marist ID.
To complement the shuttle launch, Marist is rolling out MaristSafe, a new mobile app designed to enhance campus safety and communication. Through the app, users can track shuttle locations in real time, access emergency contacts and safety tools, submit tips directly to security staff, use virtual walk-home features, share their location for added security, and receive emergency notifications about weather or class cancellations. MaristSafe is available for download on iOS and Android devices.
The college has also updated parking policies after a review by Campus Safety that used drone technology to collect data on space usage. This review included input from students via focus groups and permit data analysis in partnership with the Student Government Association. Changes include revised lot designations: commuters and residents of East Campus are now required to park only in designated East Campus lots during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while West Campus residents must use West Campus lots during those hours.
“This parking plan provides student residents with ample parking in lots nearest their housing location,” said Gough. “It also provides dedicated parking for commuters with shuttle services to the academic core of campus in just a few short minutes.”
These changes apply to all students who purchase parking permits. Students must complete vehicle registration before picking up their parking decal at Donnelly Hall’s Campus Safety office during regular business hours.
Further information about these updates can be found through frequently asked questions pages for both parking/shuttles and the MaristSafe app.