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With the start of the fall 2018 semester just two weeks away, the University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û) Parking and Transportation Services is working on improvements across multiple campuses that include new shuttle routes, new student spaces and a new road.

The recent purchase of a 28-passenger shuttle bus will give Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û’s Dahlonega Campus additional shuttle routes as part of the weekly schedule. The bus route will have hourly, off-campus stops from 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. with locations at The Bellamy, University Heights apartments, HawksNest Common, and Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's Fine Arts Complex. The shuttle will drop off students at the Dining Hall and the Health and Natural Sciences Building.

Beginning this fall, students also can ride the shuttle to and from Walmart on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pick-up will be at 2 p.m. in the parking lot across from Memorial Hall with a return time of 3 p.m.

The Gainesville Campus is undergoing construction with the addition of Loop Road behind the Martha T. Nesbitt Academic Building. Construction broke ground in May and is scheduled for completion in November. This first phase of the project is from Mundy Mill Road to Facilities Drive. Loop Road will continue to Landrum Education Drive upon further consultation with the campus community and final design.

"The facilities team has been eager to commence this project to improve the safety and traffic conditions near the Nesbitt building, and this will provide better campus circulation and much less time in traffic when leaving campus," said Bill Moody, director of Facilities and Operations for Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û’s Cumming, Gainesville, and Oconee campuses.

The Gainesville Campus will continue to promote rideshare parking in Lot K this year and the Shuttle Lot on Atlanta Highway at Landrum Education Drive.

With an expected enrollment approaching 2,500 students on the Oconee Campus, overflow parking is being installed before fall semester begins. The volleyball court will be relocated to offer additional spaces; the gravel lot will provide 15 to 17 designated spaces for student parking.

In addition there will be a shuttle available to Oconee Campus students who are residents of Athens Ridge apartment complex. This shuttle will provide transportation Monday through Thursday and will run to and from the campus three times per day.

The change is aimed to alleviate traffic congestion and parked cars along Bishop Farms Parkway and therefore increase traffic safety in the area. Oconee Campus students are encouraged to rideshare, particularly from other student apartment communities.

Additional parking and traffic improvement projects are in the planning stages for the Cumming Campus.