The Chicago shuttle, ASG’s often maligned and unreliable bus service to downtown, will resume its weekend routes Sept. 28 after a successful Spring Quarter, said Courtney Brunsfeld, Associated Student Government student services vice president.

The free shuttle will make stops on North and South Campus on its way to Wrigleyville and the Magnificent Mile, on the same schedule as it did last spring, Brunsfeld said.

The shuttle had been absent from campus for almost a year before it was restarted on a trial basis last spring.

Poor service, including late and missed stops, led to the discontinuation of the service in June 2000.

The quality of service improved last spring when ASG hired a new bus company, Royal American Bus Co., to operate the shuttles.

About 15 people used the shuttle each trip, and about 800 students total used it Spring Quarter, Brunsfeld said.

If the Chicago shuttle again runs smoothly Fall Quarter, ASG will apply for supplemental funding to keep the service for the rest of the academic year.

Because of the sporadic offering of the shuttle, it has been hard to develop loyal riders, Brunsfeld said.

“Our goal (for the fall) is to get the word out and develop a solid ridership,” she said.

To help increase use, ASG will publicize the service by putting flyers in student mailboxes and posting schedule signs at the shuttle stops.

ASG members also hope to make wallet-sized copies of the shuttle schedules for students to carry with them.

“We really need people to use the shuttle,” Brunsfeld said. “That’s the only way we’re going to keep it.”

The shuttle was not scheduled to operate this quarter after the Student Activity Finance Board cut its funds because the service had gone unused for so long.

But after a last minute petition from ASG, the shuttle’s funding of about $9,000 was restored for Fall Quarter.

Brunsfeld, a Weinberg junior, sent the petition to SAFB, which agreed to roll over funds that were already budgeted from last year.

University Services, which oversees the shuttle system, has also expanded one of the on-campus shuttles, Brunsfeld said.

The White Route will now cover a wider area on weekends. The new route will stop at downtown Evanston locations such as Century Cinemas and Burger King. The new stops should help alleviate calls to the Escort Service, Brunsfeld said.

The White Route formerly ran only north and south along Sheridan Road.

The Purple Route, which operates seven evenings a week, will also reach an expanded area beginning this fall.

NU also offers an inter-campus shuttle between its Chicago and Evanston campuses, as well as a Shop-N-Ride Shuttle to points including Old Orchard on Sundays.

“There are lots of shuttles that people don’t know about,” Brunsfeld said.