Smith College
- Transportation

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The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) is a Smithie’s greatest resource for getting around to other colleges. However, there are a few negative side effects of being a regular bus commuter to a class at another college or even the mall. The buses are often late, and waiting for one in bad weather can ruin your whole day. The buses run every half-hour or hour, depending on the day, and traffic can sometimes cause long delays. It is a huge time commitment to take the bus, which is why many students who take classes at other colleges have a personal car. On the other hand, the buses themselves are very clean and safe. Despite the time issue and the occasional rowdy Friday night crowd, it’s incredible that Smith students can use this resource for free (with a student ID) and still live so far from a major city. Without the PVTA system, students wouldn’t be able to get off campus as much as they do to explore both personal and academic opportunities in the Pioneer Valley.

For students looking to travel outside the Pioneer Valley, the Peter Pan Bus is extremely convenient—there's a station right in downtown Northampton. There is an Amtrak station in Springfield that is accessible via Peter Pan, and Bradley International Airport is only 40 minutes away. Overall, Smith students don't have a hard time finding ways to get around the area and beyond.

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Transportation at Smith College

TifDuckie3

'15

Women's Studies

4.2

A-

Pretty Good.

The PVTA will transport you to the other 4 colleges within the 5 college consortium for free if you show them your college ID. Also, if you need to travel a little further away to places like Boston, there is a Peter Pan bus terminal right downtown.

Dec 12, 2011

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Transportation at Smith College

madelbean2

'14

Education

4.6

A

Great Bus System

Smith students have free bus access to any of the five colleges in the area as well as downtown locations. You can also rent a car or bring your own. Downtown northampton is within walking distance (5 minutes) and the campus is small enough that you barely need a bike.

Aug 14, 2011

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Transportation at Smith College

doorbelle

'12

Art History

3.5

B

Not Hard to Get Where You Need to Go, but...

Transportation-wise, you're pretty much on your own. There's buses between the five colleges that run pretty frequently, but besides that you're walking or finding someone with a car. Having a car on campus is handy, but also a huge pain because parking at Smith is a joke. Luckily town is just minutes away. The only thing out of reach is reasonably priced food stores.

Feb 27, 2011

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