The HEAT will soon be here

After three years of planning, HEAT (Higher Education Area Transit) will begin service on August 8 after a kick-off celebration the morning before at the J. Douglas Galyon Depot. Funding for this new service is being provided by a federal CMAQ grant (Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality) and matching funds from the colleges and universities. Information about HEAT is being shared with all students at orientations and as they return to campus.

The big news is that A&T State University WILL officially participate after all.That means that students at all seven {correction: six, I counted GTCC twice with two of their campuses} of Greensboro's colleges and universities will be able to ride the university connector service (and any GTA fixed route bus) by presenting their student IDs. A&T came on board too late to designate a stop within the campus so those students will access the service at an East Market Street stop until on-campus arrangements can be worked out.

Shuttle buses will also travel Spring Garden Street to bring off-campus students to UNCG, and this service will be expanded to off-campus students at A&T beginning in the spring 2007 semester. Late night service will be provided on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to and from the campuses to the downtown clubs and nightspots as well.

One minor adjustment was made for the Greensboro College stop, moving it from the back of the campus to the parking lot off West Market Street. Adjacent College Hill residents had voiced concerns about the buses traveling on a short section of an all-residential street so this concession was made "to keep the peace" with the neighborhood.

City residents will also be able to use HEAT by paying the normal GTA fare. Once patrons discover the western route will provide non-stop express service from the Depot to Friendly Shopping Center, I can see this becoming a very popular service for non-students as well.

The HEAT logo and buses were designed by a student at GTCC. I'm told the buses will be quite colorful and eye-catching.

Get ready to take the HEAT!