Photo by Christa Connelly/Daily Titan Photo Editor

The Meridian Shuttle Service will end Feb. 25, leaving some Cal State Fullerton students stranded and scrambling for parking.

The decision to cancel the shuttle was based on spring permit sales, low parking counts at the Meridian Fitness Club and available parking on campus.

Parking and Transportation put up signs in front of Langsdorf Hall and the Meridian on Jan. 29, notifying students of the imminent cancellation, said Joseph Ferrer, director of parking and transportation.

“The objective of the off-campus lot and shuttle service is to provide an overflow parking location for students during the construction phase of the three campus projects (housing, the Children’s Center and the parking structure),” Ferrer said.

Most students had no idea why Parking and Transportation was canceling the service.

Matt McCartney, a 19-year-old radio-TV-film major, saves 20 to 30 minutes on his commute by using the shuttle. He wishes CSUF would try to empathize with commuter students.

“It’s a commuter campus. Anything you can do to make it convenient for everybody to be able to commute is much better,” McCartney said.

Meridian employees weren’t formally notified until a week after the signs were posted.

Ferrer said it was Empire Shuttle’s responsibility to contact the Meridian with cancellation, not that of the university.

Ian Cooper, regional manager for the Meridian, found out about the service cancellation Feb. 3 and couldn’t really explain why it was being cut.

“There’s a company that does the shuttle and they contract with us,” Cooper explained. “Empire Shuttle just got notified a few days ago themselves and then finally notified us … that’s as much as I know on it. I’m assuming it has to do with budget cuts, so we understand, but the decision does seem like it was made a few days ago.”

Cooper said the Meridian’s business will likely be affected, as many students come to the gym or get a cup of coffee before class.

The drivers were not informed by Empire shuttle that the service was being canceled. They found out through the signs and word-of-mouth, just like CSUF students, according to shuttle driver Alfred Salas.

Salas found out about the cut Feb. 3 after working the whole week. The company hasn’t told him what his next job will be, or if he will have a job after the shuttle stops.

“The fact is that we don’t know yet. (Our future) is still pending,” Salas said. “We might have another place. We don’t have an answer yet – it’s too soon. But eventually we will have another place that we will go. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Although Salas was disappointed, he said that he was told from the beginning that the service wasn’t permanent.

“I think they requested the service for certain semesters only and it (was) not going to be forever,” Salas said.

Students who use the shuttle can continue to do so until Feb. 25. After that date, Parking and Transportation suggests that students park on campus, or use the assisted parking service in lot A.

For more details, visit the Parking and Transportation Web site at Parking.fullerton.edu.