In an email sent out to the University of New Haven’s student body Aug. 21, Ronald Quagliani, the Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Administrative Services, announced that the university would no longer provide a free shuttle service to Union Station. In its place, a courtesy van will now take students to the West Haven Station.

Students are less than thrilled about this change. “The West Haven station doesn’t meet the needs of all or even a majority of students,” sophomore Sarah Boucher said.

Union Station provided students with many different means of transportation; besides access to Metro-North, students also had access to Greyhound and Peter Pan buses, along with other train services. The West Haven Station only provides access to the Metro-North and Shoreline East trains.

Many students are questioning why this change was made. “Why fix something that isn’t broken?” sophomore Trip Cahouet said.

“The University of New Haven has committed its support to utilize the services of our hometown train station,” Quagliani said when asked about why the switch between stations was made. “The decision to change the shuttle service was made once the West Haven Station was approved for construction.”

Quagliani explained that there are options available to students who need access to Amtrak, charter bus services or Shoreline East during the time it does not stop in West Haven. Students have three options, two at no cost to the student.

Students can take the UNH Train Station shuttle to the West Haven Train Station and take the eastbound Metro-North Train to Union Station. Quagliani also mentioned that the university is working with the State of Connecticut to allow UNH students to travel between the West Haven train station and the Union Station at no cost. Another option students have at no cost is to use the free UPass and use CT Transit to plan and execute their trip accordingly. Lastly, students have the option of contacting Metro Taxi or another taxi service for a direct trip to Union Station; this, however, is at the expense of the student.

In a letter addressed to Quagliani, senior Ryan Irons addressed his concern about the change between stations. “The recent change from Union Station to West Haven Metro-North Station hinders the transportation modes for many students.”

Union Station is approximately 2.2 miles away from campus, while the West Haven Station is 2.3 miles away. The 0.1 mile difference between the two stations, and the fact that both stations are seven minutes from campus, frustrate the students on campus who rely on Union Station, Irons expressed through his letter.

“I think the school is being negligent to the student needs by suspending shuttles to the New Haven station,” Boucher added.

Quagliani did mention, however, that the university might provide direct service to Union Station during peak times when many students will be leaving for breaks. “We anticipate offering direct shuttle service to Union Station for times, such as Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break,” he said.

Amidst Quagliani’s alternatives, Irons said, “I hope that you can take the time to reevaluate the services offered at the West Haven train station and realize that the Union Station in New Haven is a much better option seeing that there are multiple modes of transportation students can use, especially with a strained budget being a college student. Please consider changing the train station courtesy van/shuttle service back to Union Station so that students are provided cost-effective options.”