Penn State Transportation Services is offering free shuttles to students who must relocate due to the coronavirus, the university announced Thursday.

The shuttle will pick up students at designated locations around campus and transport them to Eastview Terrace to quarantine or isolate.

The service will utilize Penn State Blue Buses and is by appointment only. Students can request a ride through the Residence Life Quarantine/ Isolation Concierge Service Desk that will then provide them a specific pickup time and stop.

Each Blue Bus has a capacity of 44 passengers, but the maximum capacity will be limited to seven. However, it is expected that only one or two passengers will be riding on average. The buses will be sanitized between each trip, and the drivers will wear gloves and masks.

Upon pickup, the student will verify their information with the driver from outside of the shuttle. Then, the student will board with their belongings and sit as far away as possible from the driver and other passengers.

“Transportation was a need identified early in the development of the quarantine and isolation program,” Mark Rameker, director of Residence Life, said. “We appreciate the collaboration with our partners at Housing and Transportation Services to make this service happen.”

Fleet drivers from Penn State Altoona were transporting students to off-campus isolation housing earlier this semester, which sparked the idea to bring it to University Park, especially with decreasing temperatures.

“Being required to quarantine or isolate is an unexpected and disruptive event in a student’s life,” Rob DeMayo, director of Transportation Services, said. “It’s our hope that knowing that safe and reliable transportation is available has eased some of the stress faced by these students as they take the necessary precautions to keep themselves and others safe.”

Shuttle access for the fall semester will end Friday, November 20, and resume at the start of the spring semester.