MERCED, CA— In response to a demonstrated
need and as a public service in the interest of student and
community safety, Merced business Riggs Ambulance Service (RAS)
will sponsor a new, late-night service as a part of UC Merced’s
CatTracks shuttle schedule on Friday and Saturday nights from 10
p.m. to 2 a.m. The extended “Nite Cat” service hours will provide
safe transportation back to the UC Merced campus following
late-night activities, serving local residential, dining and
entertainment locations. UC Merced students, faculty and staff can
ride CatTracks.
“This generous offer from RAS will improve options for our
students and help them interact with the rest of Merced in a more
convenient and satisfying way,” said UC Merced Vice Chancellor for
Student Affairs Jane Lawrence. “We’re very grateful and pleased
that RAS has been such a thoughtful friend in extending CatTracks
service at no cost to the university.”
“RAS will pay the complete additional hourly costs of the
extended service, including vehicles, fuel and drivers,” said Kraig
Riggs, owner of RAS. “We want to provide an alternative to
dangerous late-night driving for students on their way home from
movies, work, restaurants, bars or other locations. “
VIA Adventures, owned by another branch of the Riggs family, has
provided CatTracks service under contract to UC Merced since the
shuttle service began last fall. In the first semester, CatTracks
was especially important; several laboratory classes were held at
UC Merced’s Castle facility since the facilities in the Science and
Engineering Building on campus were not yet ready.
The Science and Engineering Building and the Classroom and
Office Building are now open to serve UC Merced students. The
shuttle schedule has changed accordingly; it now runs from Castle
to campus every hour from 7 a.m. 6 p.m. It runs from campus to
Castle every half hour from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
Campus officials have made a thorough review of the Cat Tracks
service to optimize its accessibility and usefulness for the campus
community. Other changes to the service include changing the
primary campus shuttle stop from Muir Pass to the front of the
Kolligian Library, a more convenient location for students, and
adding an Amtrak shuttle stop to the Monday - Friday evening
“D-Line” shuttle route.
The complete CatTracks schedule for the new semester, including
times for the Nite Cat loop donated by RAS, can be found at
taps.ucmerced.eduthrough
the CatTracks Shuttle link on the left-hand side.
