UTA students celebrate the drivers who keep them moving
On March 18, The University of Texas at Arlington’s campus shuttle drivers will receive tokens of appreciation celebrating their service to the UT Arlington community as part of National Transit Employee Appreciation Day.
The event, which begins at 6 p.m. with a dinner for the drivers at the CAPPA Courtyard, was spearheaded by the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) student organization to honor the drivers’ year-round dedication and hard work.
“We see the work that the shuttle drivers put in every single day—in all conditions, rain or shine, holidays or regular days—to help students and staff get to where they need to go,” said Marjan Gharehghashloo, president of WTS. “As a transportation organization, we felt this was closely connected to our mission and the day was the perfect opportunity to recognize their hard work.”
UTA’s Parking and Transportation Services operates a free campus shuttle system for UTA students, faculty, staff and guests. The 25 MavMover drivers operate a fleet of nine shuttle buses and seven vans, transporting Mavericks across campus on five daytime and two evening routes. On average, 4,000 riders rely on the shuttle service every day.
Parking and Transportation services also offers a late-night escort service from 7:30 p.m. – 3 a.m. across campus, as well as to downtown Arlington and several apartment complexes in the UTA area.
For students like Gharehghashloo, the UTA shuttle service is more than a convenience—it’s essential to navigating campus, making shuttle drivers an indispensable part of student life at UTA.
“The drivers help students stay connected to campus and to the city of Arlington,” Gharehghashloo said. “They support students’ independence, access and overall quality of life. This is why we’re hosting this event, so we can show them our gratitude and appreciation for positively shaping our everyday student lives.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.