Director of Public Safety Edward Callahan and the Escort Management team have collaborated with Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 and three other members of the Student Union to implement a trial run of a shuttle bus running from campus to the Riverside MBTA Station for the next two weekends, according to a press release from the Head Coordinator of Operations for the Escort Safety Service Shirel Guez '12.

The Riverside Station provides public transportation to multiple destinations on the Green Line in Boston, including Government Center, Copley Station and Fenway Park.

According to Guez's press release, "the Department of Public Safety will be providing and covering the cost for a shuttle bus that seats 39 passengers." The press release further states that the shuttle will be conducting its test run on Saturday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 20, operating between 12:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Callahan wrote in an email to the Justice that he had met with members of the Student Union several weeks ago, and that they had agreed to implement a test run of a shuttle to Riverside Station.

"I was asked to attend a meeting concerning a Riverside shuttle. This is the first discussion that I was involved in," he wrote, further explaining that members of the Student Union and Escort Safety Service managers were at the meeting.

Guez explained in an email to the Justice that "we were asked to sit in on this meeting after being approached by the Student Union. We were able to provide relevant information regarding van and shuttle usage during weekdays and weekends."

Guez wrote that those implementing this run decided to make it a trial run to ensure student interest would be high.

"It was decided that a trial run would best benefit our service and the student body because it would allow us to gauge the demand for this shuttle service," she wrote.

Callahan explained that the Department of Public Safety is paying for the cost of the two-day shuttle but would not fund the shuttle should it become permanent.

"It is important to write that this is a Test Trial two day service. If this is a permanent service that is requested by the Student Union, funding will have to obtained from a funding source," Callahan wrote.

Callahan said he did not know who would fund it should the shuttle become permanent and that the budget office would determine available funds.

Guez did not provide an answer when asked if she thought the shuttle would become permanent University policy. She did note, however, that student responses have been very positive.

 "Since our press release I have received about 25 emails from students who are very excited about this trial run. The Escort Safety Service is a completely student-run service, we depend on our students and our goal is to satisfy the student body as well. At the end of the day I believe that this is a very positive trial run and we'll see where it goes in the future," she wrote.  

Rosen wrote in an email to the Justice that Union Vice President Gloria Park '13, Off-Campus Senator Rachel Goutman '12 and Senator for East Quad Jeremy Goodman '13 headed much of the initiative.