Northeast Iowa Community College and ECIA_Transportation for Studentsstudent driven...community focused
December 7, 2010
Dave Heiar
Economic Development
City of Dubuque
Kelley Deutmeyer
Executive Director
East Central Intergovernmental Association
Dear Dave and Kelley,
On behalf of Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) we want to acknowledge and thank the City of Dubuque and East Central
Intergovernmental Association for your support in providing transportation to NICC students. Your past history of securing grant
funding and providing dedicated service both to and between NICC's Dubuque Center and the Peosta campus has made a huge
difference in the education of our students. We recognize that your funding and commitment to students has been the driving force
behind the RTA/Keyline shuttle service. Your creative efforts to keep this service going are most appreciated.
As you know, nationwide, lack of transportation is often a barrier to student access of education. Locally, the transit services you
provide contribute to an increase in the educational level and employability of our community members. For NICC students, the
availability of transit services has fostered their immediate ability to better their lives through education.
In addition to meeting the physical need for transportation, the RTA/Keyline transit services, in a very real way, have provided an
opportunity for relationship and community- building. For example, students who have moved here from larger cities arrive in
Dubuque with an expectation of mass transit options. The existence of your service makes them feel welcome and in control of
accessing opportunities within their new community, including education. Regular, consistent ridership offers all users an
opportunity to acknowledge and get to know others with whom they might not otherwise come into contact. For NICC users, the bus
rides provide opportunity for community building and engagement outside of the classroom; both students and staff alike express their
enjoyment in getting to know each other as they share rides to and from NICC. At a time when the Dubuque community is addressing
issues of safety, poverty and community engagement, the significance of RTA/Keyline services cannot be overstated.
Finally, current NICC RTA/Keyline transit users cite additional perks of their decision to share a bus: convenience, low cost, a
peaceful and stress -free transportation in bad weather, a great back -up solution when other rides fail, a solution to college parking
congestion, and the opportunity to act on their values regarding sustainability and environmental consciousness.
Thank you for your recent inclusion of NICC in discussion about a new Medical/College Loop bus route in Dubuque. It is a fantastic
idea to streamline the traffic to Dubuque's private colleges, NICC's downtown centers, and the large medical facilities in town.
Addition of this loop will provide yet another transportation option for our students, affording them even more opportunity to
effectively manage their busy lives.
Again, thank you for leading the local transit services. NICC supports and looks forward to continued collaboration with the City of
Dubuque and East Central Intergovernmental Association's mass transit efforts.
Sincerely
NORTHEAST IOWA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Amy Esterhuizen, P
NICC Peosta Campus Provost
ext. 201, esterhuizena @,portal.nicc.edu
Peosta Campus
10250 Sundown Road • Peosta, IA 52068 -9703
563.556.5110 • 800.728.7367 • Fax 563.556.5058 • www.nicc.edu
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Brad Powers
iMPACT Student President
ext. 230, powersb @portal.nicc.edu
Calmar Campus • Peosta Campus
NICC Centers: Chickasaw County • Cresco • Dubuque • Oelwein • Town Clock • Waukon