UTC students Jaden Dickson, left, and Evan Barnes ride the Mocs Express shuttle, which provides free transportation around campus. Photo by Angela Foster..
Getting to class can be one of the most routine parts of a student’s day, but the hassle of parking, navigating Chattanooga’s heat and long walks across campus can throw that routine off. For students looking to ease these burdens, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers the Mocs Express shuttle as a convenient, safe way to get around campus free of charge.
The Mocs Express shuttle operates a regular 13-hour route Monday through Friday, with a special Friday evening route for students to enjoy.
Students don’t have to figure out the Mocs Express alone. When they first step into the shuttle, they can expect a driver ready to answer questions about routes. Passengers can also expect consistency as the shuttle follows the same route every time, ensuring predictable arrival times and a stress-free ride to class.
UTC junior Kynli Kirkendoll takes advantage of the Mocs Express and rides it every day. According to Kirkendoll, navigating the Mocs Express was unfamiliar at first, but it gradually became part of her daily routine. As parking lots fill quickly, this resource is great for students who often struggle to find parking.
“Parking is why I take it every day,” said Kirkendoll, a business marketing major from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
UTC junior Kynli Kirkendoll is a regular rider of the Mocs Express.
UTC partners with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority to provide the Mocs Express campus shuttle. CARTA is Chattanooga’s public transit service providing citizens with a convenient and more affordable way to get around the city. CARTA designated Route 14 as the Mocs Express route, giving a free public transit system solely for Mocs students, faculty and staff.
Starting at Engel Stadium, the Mocs Express runs through campus and the neighboring streets for a complete loop of less than 30 minutes. Once the bus returns to its starting point, the route restarts.
According to the Mocs Express webpage, the shuttle runs every six minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Mocs Express also offers a special Friday evening route from 6 p.m. to midnight, giving students transportation to popular dining and entertainment areas.
Students can track buses and shuttle stops by downloading CARTA’s Transit app. From the app, students can see the nearest stops, arrival times and the location of each Mocs bus running the route.
Once students know their desired pick-up and drop-off stops, the process takes little time to track their daily ride.
Some students come to UTC from hometown cities where they use public transit daily, and the Mocs Express shuttle is nothing new. For other students, public transportation is a new experience.
UTC sophomore mechatronics major Evan Barnes recently started taking the shuttle and plans to make the ride a regular part of his day.
“The bus has great air conditioning and beats walking in the heat,” said Barnes, who hails from Franklin, Tennessee.
UTC junior Jaden Dickson, an entrepreneurship major with a minor in Spanish, recommended Barnes take the shuttle to beat the weather and parking. Dickson was no stranger to public transportation; the Atlanta native had experience using the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority service and downloaded the Transit app when arriving at UTC.
“I definitely recommend it for students not wanting to waste time with parking,” said Dickson, “and it has great AC.”
Jenny Stole has been driving for CARTA for 24 years and has frequently driven the Mocs Express route. She has watched students arrive uncertain and nervous.
Stole sees many students and professors riding the shuttle to escape the turmoil of finding parking, unpredictable weather and long distances to class.
Stole said she has enjoyed watching uncertain students take their first ride and slowly integrate it into their daily schedule. Her favorite part of the job is watching students grow and develop a confidence that carries far beyond their experience on the shuttle.
“I love seeing people getting more comfortable riding the Mocs Express,” Stole said. “I don’t think they realize how convenient it can be.”
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CARTA driver Jenny Stole has been a longtime Mocs Express driver.
