Cuesta College is relocating the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority bus stop from Chorro Valley Road near the 1400 building to Romauldo Road near the 3000 building. The new bus route will go into effect on Monday, Feb. 9. 

Mary Gardner, the Regional Transit Authority marketing manager, explained that it was Cuesta’s decision to migrate the bus stop, not the RTA’s.

“The bus stop actually used to be at the front of the campus where the new one is, and we moved it in the fall of 2016 to the back of the campus, back by the gym,” Gardner said.“That was mostly driven by ADA (American Disabilities Act) issues; it was difficult for students with disabilities to reach the bus stop that was at the front.” 

Before Cuesta began the landscaping remodeling by the new Campus Center, the northern side of the campus’ terrain was “convoluted, weird, and hilly,” according to Gardner, creating a struggle for students to get to and from the bus stop. The reconstruction began in spring 2023 and the terrain has since been redesigned for easier accessibility. 

According to Chief Jesse Herring of the campus police, none of the drop off schedules will change. 

“I feel like it’s a better drop off point, especially for new students and the administrative staff because of the location of the new Student Center Building. Financial aid, registration, counseling will all be right there and safety wise, it’s also well lit with emergency alert equipment on site,” Herring said. “Also, the bigger parking lot makes it easier for buses to safely maneuver.”

Gardner drew attention to the new LED sign that the bus shelter will feature. The sign will show all of the different bus routes and display estimated arrival times; “So people will know when the bus is coming – they won’t stand there and be like, ‘I wonder where the heck the bus is’, they’ll know,” she said.

“When I saw [the bus stop relocation], I was definitely surprised and shocked,” sophomore student Alma Garcia said. “Now I know that I have to be on time to the bus stop and I have to literally walk all the way to the other side, so it’s going to take me definitely a minute. I think it’s going to be an adjustment, not just for me, but for other people as well.” When asked her specific opinion on it based on the location of her classes, Garcia said, “I think they should have just left the bus stop because it’s more convenient for people to be on this side of campus instead of the opposite.”

The SLO RTA bus is free to all Cuesta students. Slorta.org provides a Ride Guide, Personal Trip Planner tool, and bus schedule to ensure a safe and carefree ride. The Cuesta College website includes information about Cuesta College-specific bus rides.