by Roslyn Ross

   It costs one dollar to go to the Meriden Mall on a MAT (Middletown Area Transit) bus. That same dollar can get you to Staples, Goodwill, Super Stop and Shop, Ames, or Wal-Mart.
   “Middletown has an incredible public transportation system,” said daily commuter Winston Dunn. “The routes are easy, not too many turns, straight up the highway. The fares are simple: one dollar.”

   Despite their popularity among local residents commuting to work, the useful bus system has yet to enjoy much business from students at the University.

   “I never see Wesleyan students riding the bus,” said Beth Batz, who frequents Middletown’s busses to go to work. “The bus goes right through Church Street. Wesleyan students take their sweet time walking in front of the bus. They must know the busses exist!”

   Wesleyan students might see the busses barreling through campus, but utilizing them has not occurred to many students at the University. To most students, busses are what they use to go home, to other colleges, or the city. The most obvious solution to getting somewhere nearby is to bum a ride off of a friend with a car.

   “I didn’t know I could get to stores using the busses,” said Diego Ortiz ’05, who added that he had never noticed Middletown’s busses traversing the campus.

   Also, Main Street is deemed too far to walk by some students to catch the bus.

   “I would be more likely to use the busses if there were a stop closer to campus,” Ortiz said.

   The closest stops to campus are William St./Broad St. (Atticus) and Washington St./High St. (near Intercultural House).

   “If there was interest from students in a bus stopping somewhere other than where they currently stop, I am sure MAT would be willing to listen to their suggestions,” said Mike Whaley, Dean of Student Services.
   According to Thomas A. Cheeseman, Administrator of the Middletown Transit District, students can “flag the busses down on Church Street or along William Street if they find the stops too far away. On return trips drivers are usually willing to make extra stops if students request them.”

   “The bus drivers are flexible and really nice,” said Mike Sanfillipo ’05. “If you ask them to pull over at the next corner and let you off, they will.”

   Bus C, the one that makes the near-campus stops, also stops at Washington Plaza (Ames, Staples, Super Food Mart, fast food chains, and Blockbuster) and the Middletown terminal, making switches onto other busses easy.

   “Take bus C downtown if you want to connect to any of the other busses,” advised Cheeseman who would like to see more business from University students, but does not think an additional stop nearer to campus is necessary.

   “The money to operate the busses is part of a program designed to give access for Middletown residents to jobs in Meriden. The more stops the busses make, the longer the routes and the less likely the busses are to be on time.”

   Dunn said that the busses are usually on time. “They are either on time or early. You don’t have to worry about these busses.”

   Other frequent users disagree. “They’re late sometimes, but it’s always because of heavy traffic, and it’s not bad. This is a good bus system they have here,” Batz said.

   Cheeseman agreed. “I believe it’s convenient and reasonably priced. I would like to see more Wesleyan students use [the busses].”
   Students were excited when they learned that busses go to their favorite stores six days a week all day.

            “I am going to use them now that I know about them,” Ortiz said.

Middletown bus schedule

 Westfield Shoppingtown (the Meriden Mall):
Departs Middletown: 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 3:30pm
Departs the mall: 1:00pm and 4:00pm (and a special 11:05am on Saturdays)
Duration of trip: 30 minutes
Bus: the “M Link

Washington Plaza
(Ames, Super Food Mart, Blockbuster, Staples and fast food chains):
Departs Middletown: busses leave about every 20 minutes, starting at 6:05am and finishing at 6pm (5:25pm on Saturdays).
Departs the Plaza: busses leave about every 20 minutes, starting at 6:27am and continuing until 6:30pm.
Duration of trip: three to five minutes
Bus: Route C

Stop and Shop:
Departs Middletown: busses leave about every 20 minutes, starting at 6:05am and finishing at 6pm (5:25pm on Saturdays).
Departs Stop and Shop: busses leave about every 20 minutes, starting at 6:13am and continuing until 6:13pm.
Duration of trip: seven minutes to get there, 15 to 30 get back.
Bus: Route A

Wal-Mart:
Departs Washington Plaza: busses leave about every 40 minutes, starting at 7:50am and finishing at 5:10pm (5:50pm on Saturdays).
Departs Wal-Mart: busses leave about every 40 minutes, starting at 7:12am and continuing until 6:10pm.
Duration of trip: 20 minutes to get there, 15 to get back.
Bus: Route E

K-Mart:Departs Middletown: busses leave about every 40 minutes, starting at 6:05am and finishing at 5:25pm (6:05pm on Saturdays).
Departs K-Mart: busses leave about every 40 minutes, starting at 6:24am and continuing until 5:44pm.
Duration of trip: 20 minutes to get there, 15 to get back.
Bus: Route D

*all busses that departing Middletown leave from the terminal located at 340 Main Street, just past Dancercise.

*busses do not run on Sunday