Transportation
The NMSU Transportation Services Department is working on several initiatives which will directly support the SCCTF mission. These initiatives will impact not only staff and faculty transportation but student transportation as well. The current actions being taken by the Transportation Services Department include the use of ethanol blended gasoline and biodiesel, the purchase of alternative fuel and electric vehicles for the University fleet, and expanding the Aggie Shuttle routes.
If you are interested in learning more about how the Transportation Services Department is helping us reach our goals please contact Ophelia Watkins.
Staff Transportation & Fleet
The NMSU Transportation Services Department’s fleet initiatives are driven not only by the SCCTF guidelines but by state mandate as well. In an executive order made in 2005 the governor mandated that all institutions of higher education in New Mexico meet a minimum of 15% of total fuel needs with alternative fuels by the year 2010 and that 75% of vehicles purchased annually must be able to run on these fuels. Since that time the NMSU Transportation Services Department has worked diligently to meet these mandates.
According to a University press release NMSU purchased 28 alternative fuel vehicles in fiscal year 2006-2007 as well as several GEM electric cars for short-distance transportation on campus. The University is also switching to an E15 (15% ethanol) blend of gasoline and a B20 (20% biodiesel) blend of diesel for its current fleet vehicles.
Student Transportation/Aggie Shuttle
The biggest and most important change to the student transportation system is the expansion of the Aggie Transit System, otherwise known as the Aggie Shuttle. The Aggie Shuttle now has three routes serving the NMSU main campus and the Doña Ana Community College main campus. This service provides two main benefits to the campus community. First, it reduces the overall emissions from commuters to the University. Second, it relieves much of the traffic congestion in the middle of campus making it safer for pedestrians. Possible future plans for the Aggie Transit System include collaboration with the City of Las Cruces Transit System to create NMSU specific routes within the city, thereby making public transportation a more viable option for off-campus commuters to NMSU.
The current Aggie Shuttle routes may be found here: