Commuting to Campus

Parking

Faculty and staff who have parking permits will continue to have access to parking lots at CUIMC and Morningside. Both campuses are exploring additional options to assist employees.

Shuttles

Columbia Transportation shuttles are operating with health and safety precautions in place, including required face coverings and capacity limits to enable reduced density. 

Additional vehicles are being added along the Intercampus and Ft. Lee routes to maintain shuttle frequency and to allow for physical distancing. Consult the campus shuttle pages for routes, schedules, and pickup locations.

For the Morningside campus, Columbia Transportation and Public Safety have partnered with Via to transition Evening Shuttle service to an on-demand app-based system. The new service started Monday, June 15, and replaces the Public Safety Evening Shuttle buses. Riders are now able to request a ride using their smartphone, within defined operating hours and location boundaries, as a safe, convenient and free transportation option at night.

Public Transportation

Staggered start/leave times: As part of plans to reduce density and minimize use of public transit during rush hours, units across the University may set staggered start and departure times for employees and students who are returning to campus. 

FAQ on public transportation, taxis and car-service use by Columbia affiliates: 

Can I take the subway, bus or train to come to work or school? 

Yes. To protect yourself and others, always wear your face covering, keep 6 feet away from others where possible, avoid touching your face, and sneeze or cough into your elbow.  Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap immediately after travel.

Please note that the MTA and NJTransit are doing enhanced cleaning of subways, buses, trains, and stations.  More information is available: https://new.mta.info/coronavirus/cleaning

https://www.njtransit.com/covid19

What should I do if I can’t keep six feet away from others?

Keep your face covering on and follow all of the health guidance above.  In addition, you can try to turn your head away from anyone who is near you, so that you face whichever space will give you the most distance from people nearby.

If I take a car service or cab, do I need to wear a face cover?

Yes. Always, to protect yourself and anyone in the car with you, wear your face covering and follow the other health guidance above.  If you are the sole passenger, choose a seat furthest from the driver, which will enable you to maintain as much physical distance as possible in the vehicle.  If the weather permits, consider keeping your window down to increase air circulation.