[SCLA] Fwd: Free Shuttle Service Posting

[Colleen Navins]

*Please see the message below from Annette Stellato from Stony Brook
University:*



Stony Brook University Researchers Increase Equitable Access to Long Island
Sound Waterfront by Providing Free Shuttle Service


Stony Brook, NY –July 29, 2024 – Stony Brook University researchers are
conducting a pilot program aimed at facilitating equitable public access to
the Long Island Sound waterfront. Professor Anil Yazici, Undergraduate
Director, Department of Civil Engineering; and Professor Elizabeth Hewitt,
Department of Technology and Society, received a grant from the nonprofit New
York Sea Grant <https://www.nyseagrant.org/>(NYSG) program, which is being
used to provide participants no-cost, round trip shuttle service between
their selected pick-up location and West Meadow Beach.


The free shuttles run every weekend of summer 2024 and can be requested by
downloading a free app
<https://library.stonybrook.edu/2024/06/11/free-shuttle-to-west-meadow-beach-during-summer-2024-weekends/>,
which is available in both English and Spanish. As part of the  project,
rideshare participants will be asked to complete a survey to identify
changes in attitudes toward the Long Island Sound environment.


The objectives of the project being conducted are:



   -

   To provide beach access to disadvantaged communities with limited
   mobility options
   -

   To determine if participants have an increased appreciation toward the
   Long Island Sound waterfront
   -

   To gauge if improved public beach access increases awareness of the
   environmental issues and climate change concerns for Long Island Sound and
   how the public sees its role within the overall ecosystem
   -

   To use ridership trends to assess long-term feasibility of the shuttle,
   such as future shuttle schedules, travel routes, the popularity of
   different beaches, and how much users are willing to pay for a
   transportation service


“Long Island is car-dependent, which can be a real barrier to accessing
local amenities for some community members. We’re excited to provide a free
shuttle to expand mobility options and Long Island Sound beach access to
underserved populations this summer,” said Professor Elizabeth Hewitt,
Department of Technology and Society.


“Having access to natural resources has been shown to improve health and
quality of life, yet especially disadvantaged populations face
transportation related barriers to utilize the natural resources. Our
project addresses both transportation and environmental equity concerns by
providing a transportation service for people who do not own a car or means
to access Long Island Sound beaches. We welcome all Long Island communities
to utilize our shuttle with their families,” said Professor Anil Yazici,
Undergraduate Director, Department of Civil Engineering.



About Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University — New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public
university — is going far beyond the expectations of today’s public
universities. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
With nearly 26,000 students, more than 2,900 faculty members, more than
200,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I
athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center
of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The
university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate,
graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked
as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the
nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a
commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s
membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it
among the top 71 research institutions in North America.

-- 
Colleen Navins
*Teen Services Coordinator*

The Smithtown Library
1 North Country Road
Smithtown, NY 11787
(631) 360-2480, ext. 123
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