Over 30 UC Santa Cruz community members gathered to air grievances about the safety and reliability of transportation on campus.
The Student Union Assembly (SUA) held the first of two town hall events regarding the Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) department. Attendees gathered on Zoom and in person at the Merrill Cultural Center on Jan. 29.
“Student distrust in TAPS has been building for years,” said Megan Amiya, chair of the Student Union Governance Board (SUGB). “We need assurances that TAPS is operating as a safe and well-managed transportation system.”
Megan Amiya, Chair of the Student Union Governance Board (SUGB), helped facilitate the town hall which included members of SOMeCA, the SUA, the SUGB, and students present to voice opinions of how TAPS can better help the campus.
This event came in the wake of the Dec. 12, 2023 loop bus crash, which injured 6 students onboard and Dan Stevenson, the bus driver. Stevenson later died from his injuries. Many speakers spoke to his loss, which has been widely felt in the community.
Many students attended the town hall hoping the administration would answer their questions about bus safety and TAPS operation. The event’s initial announcement advertised the attendance of Dan Henderson, TAPS Director, and Clement Stokes, Associate Vice Chancellor for Risk and Safety over Zoom.
However, after a decision from TAPS on Jan. 26, the SUA announced the two would not be present on the 29th. TAPS attributed their absence to a lack of time to prepare for the community questions, having not received them in advance. After the event, attendees were reminded to submit questions to the SUA in preparation for the next town hall.
“We do town halls to get answers from the administration […], find solutions, [and] gather with not only community members but student organizations and beyond,” said Stephanie Sanchez-Toscano, SUA Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Throughout the evening, students, SUA officers, and student organization representatives took the mic to speak out against practices and policies implemented by TAPS. The recent spike in ticket prices from $50 to $75, the removal of 20-minute loading zones, and the lack of transparent communication with the student body were among the concerns students raised. However, the foremost concern of many speakers was the safety of the loop buses.
SUA (Student Union Assembly) Vice President of Student Life and Student Advocate Alicia Anyanwu (third from left) listens as undergraduate Alexander Castaneda (first from left) shares concerns about the relationship between the campus community and TAPS.
Henderson and Stokes will answer student questions at a second town hall scheduled for Feb. 2 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Classroom Unit 2.
Editor’s Note: City on a Hill Press (CHP) representatives participated in public comment at the town hall. The representatives did not take part in writing this article.
