The Student Senate Housing Committee and Housing staff surveyed 49 College Park Apartments residents and found more than half of them missed a class because of shuttle unavailability.

Approximately 26 percent of the surveyed students said they use the shuttle more than 10 times weekly. Also, 55 percent of the surveyed students said they have missed at least one class due to lack of transportation.

The most dominant factors that affected shuttle usage are weather and lack of transportation.

Committee members said they felt there was a sufficient need to extend shuttle hours. They submitted a proposal for shuttle extension to the Pitt-Johnstown Vice President for Student Affairs, Jonathan Wescott.

The shuttle now runs every 15 minutes from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The Committee proposal to Wescott did not specify how long the extension should be.

“After the survey,” said Stephen Torquato, the Housing Committee Chairman, “I think (extending shuttle hours) is necessary. There are almost 50 students that were surveyed and approximately 95 percent of the students said there is the need to change.

College Park Apartments resident Marquis Walker said he thinks there’s a need to extend the shuttle hours.

“I need to get to classes that start later in the day during the winter,” Walker said.