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The preliminary bus schedule continues to be under review and will be adjusted based on data provided from the final student and faculty/staff transportation surveys that were recently administered.
In preparation for the move to the new campus that begins in June, the university is currently designing the summer bus schedule. It will operate with a reduced number of buses and frequency, until the extended schedule comes into effect in September.
The shuttle buses will, however, operate on Friday and Saturday but also with a limited frequency, depending on demand reflected in the transportation surveys. Both the weekend and summer schedules will be made available when they are finalized.
During the month of Ramadan, expected to begin around September 2, the shuttle bus will be adjusted accordingly to suit the amended working hours and class timetable.
Before establishing the bus schedules and setting the fees for the bus pass, AUC surveyed other private universities in Cairo. The proposed fee policies reflect current practices throughout Cairo. The cost of the shuttle bus system is a function of the numbers of buses required which in turn, is driven by the frequency of the service, the distance of the routes, the number of routes needed, the high standard of the buses and the experience of the drivers.
The proposed bus fares only represent a contribution toward the cost of the extensive transportation system being provided: even after fare revenue, the bus system will be highly subsidized by the university.
All students taking the bus, including dependants of staff, even on scholarship, will have to pay the proposed fare. Teaching assistants are considered students and as such they require a student bus pass. Student Affairs is however exploring the feasibility of providing assistance to students who receive full scholarships (PSSF and LEAD) from the university.
All staff members, whether seasonal, part- or full-time, will have access to the bus system without charge. This also applies to all faculty, including part-time and adjunct. Children of faculty and staff with a valid bus pass can ride the shuttle bus without charge. For planning purposes however, it will be important that the transportation office is aware of any such requirement when riders obtain their bus pass.
The shuttle bus system needs to be designed on the basis of a pass. Only through the sale of passes can the university reasonably determine the number and size of buses that are required to meet the overall commuting demands. The passes can be bought by year, valid for the Fall, Winter and Spring semesters, but also by semester. Individual tickets are still under consideration. The exact mechanisms of how that can be handled are being finalized with the bus service provider and details will be made available as soon as possible.
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