Bus transportation offered as perk in employee benefits package
Belmont University students and staff can now leave their cars, trucks, and SUVs at home and rely on the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority for their rides to and from the university thanks to a new partnership agreement between the university and MTA announced today. Belmont is the first university in Nashville to offer free bus service to its students.
MTA and Belmont officials announced that the new student and employee commuter benefits program is scheduled to begin this week as students and staff return to campus, providing Belmont students, faculty and staff an opportunity to save on gasoline, help reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment
“We’re pleased to be the first university in Nashville to offer this service to students in addition to faculty and staff,” Belmont University President Bob Fisher said. “This commuter benefits program could help lower students’ out-of-pocket expenses associated with attending Belmont, and will provide a significant new tax-free benefit to our employees. In addition, this partnership will reduce the number of cars coming to campus and help the surrounding neighborhood and our environment.”
Any student or employee with a Belmont-issued ID card is eligible to ride to and from the campus without charge. MTA’s high tech fare boxes have been programmed to recognize the magnetic strip on the ID cards. Students and employees simply swipe their cards through the magnetic strip reader on the top right corner of the fare box when boarding and the university will pay for the bus trips.
“Partnering with the Nashville MTA in this initiative is a good investment in mass transit and it is good for our university family,” Dr. Fisher said.
MTA Chief Executive Officer Paul Ballard said, “The Nashville MTA is delighted to have another university such as Belmont participating in our commuter benefits program. With the current fuel prices, we invite more people to give public transportation a chance. We are hopeful the students, staff and faculty will take advantage of this university sponsored transit benefit.”
According to MTA officials, the Route 2 Belmont is the most convenient local bus route serving the university. Students, faculty, and staff needing more information about bus schedules should contact the MTA customer service call center at 615 862-5950 or visit the MTA web at www.nashvillemta.org and click on the schedules tab. MTA staff also will be available on campus in the coming weeks to answer questions from individuals about Nashville’s transportation system.
If you are a member of the media and would like more information about this press release, please contact:
Patricia Harris-Morehead, MTA, 615-880-3943
Greg Pillon, Belmont University, 615-460-6645
