Rumors of a revamped CyRide system are – for the most part – true. But students expecting changes in the new academic year will be disappointed. CyRide routes will see not see changes until summer of 2018, but it is prepared to present mockups for community feedback as early as this fall.

“For the most part, it’s going to feel the same,” said Steven Valentino, a student representative for the Ames Transit Agency’s Board of Trustees. “Students shouldn’t expect migrating to a vastly different area.”

The changes may seem small, but will target efficiency and frequency. The biggest changes will be three new routes: Cherry, Lilac and Peach.

Cherry is the previous 1A Red Route, renamed and numbered 11. 12 Lilac will be an express version from west Ames, and 25 Peach will run between Vet Med and North Grand Mall.

Gold Route will move to number 26 as all-day 10 minute service between the Towers (Wallace and Wilson Halls) and Schilletter Village.

Valentino said along with the three additional routes, almost every route could see changes. Any final changes will be approved after public hearings, which will be held beginning in the fall.

Changes to 3 Blue Route in particular should benefit students. The proposed route shortens the north end of the route, and potentially will allow buses to drop off in the Target parking lot, similar to how the stops at North Grand Mall work.

“That’s my favorite change personally,” Valentino said. “Nobody likes having to haul their bags all the way across to the Chipotle stop or the Panera stop… especially in the winter, it’s brutal.”

It would also cut down on shopping carts leaving store areas.

Other routes facing changes are 1 Red Route, which is proposed to run more frequently, and 6 Brown Route will see changes as well in efficiency.

CyRide contracted an agency to evaluate the current system following enrollment growth and growth of the city.

“This is a public transit agency, it’s not just the university’s transit system,” Valentino said. “The city has developed over the last few years and the current service was not living up to what it could live up to.”

Valentino’s motto has been “don’t sacrifice service.” Valentino will be a representative to the Board for a second year.

“In our peer group we’re one of the best transit systems,” Valentino said. The Orange route, in particular, ranks high among state routes.

Meeting times will be posted later on CyRide’s website.