
Many students at Kirkwood Community College commute between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. This causes gas expenses to go up and allocated study time to go down. However, there is an alternative option for traveling to class: The 380 Express.
While tickets typically cost $3.50 per ride, Kirkwood’s partnership with 380 Express Corridor Rides allows students to apply for free passes.
Students can apply each semester if they have a coursework need to commute between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. This is common among nursing students doing clinicals with the University of Iowa.
Chase Becicka, registrar systems support analyst, said he highly recommends using the 380 Express. “Winter in Iowa is obviously a thing, so just the ability to not have to worry about that piece while you’re traveling back and forth,” he said.
The 380 Express uses charter buses to transport its passengers, which means Wi-Fi, charging ports and restrooms are available to anyone using the bus. This allows students to work on homework assignments while commuting to and from class.
“The buses are not like school buses, they’re the nice liners that an organization would take out so there’s big seats and there’s wireless internet so students can work on coursework or whatever else they need to while they’re going back and forth,” he continued.
The express is also significantly less expensive than alternatives such as Uber according to Becicka. “Just from a cost savings perspective, it’s significantly cheaper in general, but then if we’re able to sponsor you then it’s no cost to you throughout the semester,” he said.
Becicka said he encourages students to apply, even if it only benefits them for a short time. “Some students only have clinicals for four weeks. That still is a large savings for them,” he said.
He added, “As long as you have that coursework need to go back and forth between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, either direction, it’s an opportunity.”
Students can find the application at kirkwood.edu/380expressrides.
The 380 Express makes numerous stops in Iowa City and Coralville before delivering passengers to various areas throughout Cedar Rapids. The bus stops include the Cedar Rapids Ground Transportation Center, Cedar Rapids Lot 44 Park and Ride, Kirkwood Community College in front of Linn Hall, the Coralville Intermodal Facility, the University of Iowa Healthcare West Campus Transportation Center near Kinnick Stadium and Court Street Transportation Center in Iowa City.
Many of these stops are also on CAMBUS routes that connect to the Kirkwood Regional Center in Coralville as well as various locations around the University of Iowa. Anybody can ride the CAMBUS for free as there is no fare.
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