In September of 2018, Lehigh University announced a series of changes to the campus parking and transportation program called the Connections plan. 

One of the most important changes is the enhancement of the Lehigh University Transit System. A safer, more reliable, and efficient transit system will be the backbone for the successful implementation of the Connections plan in the coming years. Our ability to effectively serve the campus community will not only help to support the planned reduction of parking in the campus core, but it will move us closer toward our goal of creating a car-free, walkable, and connected campus.

The goals of the new Lehigh University Transit System include:

• Provide convenient, timely, and comfortable transportation options to eliminate vehicle dependence in the core of campus and provide access to all existing parking facilities.
  


• Implement significant improvements and promote transit system usage by expanding service, including the implementation of new routes, buses, and wayfinding signage.
  


• Provide consistent, attractive, weather-protected bus shelters with clear signs, bus route information, consistent branding, and protection from the elements.
  


• Provide service to the City of Bethlehem’s SouthSide.
  
  
• Maintain or improve the headway to the Mountaintop campus. 

• Provide regular service to Goodman campus.
  
  
• Provide a more cost-effective and efficient system. 
  
  

Benefits of Utilizing the Lehigh University Transit System

• Buses can be tracked through the bus.lehigh.edu tracking website.
  


• Bus stops are located within easy and closer walking distance than most parking facilities, allowing the option to get off at stops and walk down the hill, instead of up.
  
  
• Shorter wait time between buses (approximately 10 minutes). 
  


• Use the bus.lehigh.edu tracking website to further minimize wait time. 
  

Moving Forward

The University is in the process of expanding the Lehigh University Transit System to accomplish these goals. These updates will be fully implemented between March 29 and July of 2019. The changes include the following: 

• The new Campus Connector route. Check out the new route that includes extension of the Campus Connector to stop at Farrington Square, SouthSide, Whitaker and STEPS. 
  
  
• Update of the Packer Express route. Check out the new route that includes extension of the Packer Express to stop at Farrington Square, Whitaker and STEPS. 
  
  
• AccessLU is a new service that will provide on-demand service for those with accessibility limitations. More details about this service will be provided later this semester. 
  

• The “Campus Connector” will run late night hours to all campuses and replaces the “T.R.A.C.S” route.
   
  
• The old “Campus Connector” and “Mountaintop Express” have been replaced with the new “Campus Connector” which will run 5 buses on the route during peak hours. This increases the number of buses running during peak hours between the Asa Packer and Mountaintop campuses from 3 buses to 5 buses.
  
  
• Revised transit system schedule. The new schedule is outlined in detail below. 
  
  
• Significantly shorter wait time between buses (approximately 10 minutes). 
  
  

New! Transit System Schedule

 

We are pleased to be able to deploy the new Campus Connector and Packer Express as of March 29, 2019. We will be communicating additional transit enhancements in the weeks to come, including more details about AccessLU and service to commuter lots. 

It is also our goal to implement the transit system improvements so that students, faculty, and staff can begin to use the system and provide feedback about the routes, bus stop locations, and times during the next few months so that we can make adjustments. 

Additionally, one of the next key enhancements is the bike program. Please share your thoughts now about biking to and around campus by filling out this survey. Knowing your priorities for safer, efficient and convenient biking infrastructure is crucial to improving multi-modal options.

We would like to thank the campus community for sharing ideas and identifying possible areas for improvement. Further, we look forward to collaborating with various campus groups as the plan is implemented and evolves. 

Sincerely, 

Mark Ironside, Executive Director of University Business Services

Bob Bruneio, Manager of Transportation Services