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Contact UsYou can wave down a Comet Cab at any safe point along its route that doesn’t obstruct traffic – such as a crosswalk or stop sign – and be dropped off at any safe point on its circuit. Because of this, Comet Cabs don’t keep a regular schedule like the Comet Cruiser (DART Route 883). Each route has its own hours of operation, which can change at different times of the year, sometimes running shorter during Summer semester and when classes aren’t in session.
Parking & Transportation
Preparing for Commencement
Comet Cabs were first used during graduation in May 2012. Starting with two cabs – one driven by a full-time employee and one by a part-time employee – they picked up anyone wanting a ride closer to the ceremonies.
“Once we started organizing our daily routes, we considered doing something special during events, including graduation. And over the years, as the campus enrollment grew, our operation has gotten much, much, much bigger,” said Elena Galli, assistant director for Parking & Transportation.
“At first it seemed as if no one knew. We’d drive up and ask students, staff or visitors if they would like a ride and they’d say, ‘Sure!’ and ask how much, and we’d say, ‘It’s free!’ That’s always good, right?”
For graduation, 12 to 15 drivers are dispatched to work all day, plus 10 to 12 greeters. Greeters welcome guests, remind them to have their tickets ready, hold open doors for guests, and hand visitors something to remind them of where they parked.
“We’ve been at it now for seven years! The operation has expanded, mostly in staff. Each year we try to add something new to make it easier in the future. We go over what we did last time to figure out what we can do better,” Galli said.
“There’s been a bunch of little things we’ve done, like the 20-foot flags we put in the parking lots; we’ve improved our staging – now that the Activity Center is no longer surrounded by construction projects we have a really good system for pick-ups and returns.”
Everyone gets dropped off at the Copy Center and at the end of commencement ceremonies, they exit near the gym and are carried back to their lots.
“It’s a nice flow we have going that helps Judy Barnes (director for University Events) and Rena Piper (assistant director for University Events) to flip the room faster,” Galli said.
“We have a post-op review with Judy and Rena to see what happened and what we could do better. One idea that came out of it: we started placing maps on the backs of seats in the Comet Cabs that show we are dropping you off here and we’ll pick you up there. We also now have information online showing where the shuttles drop off and pick up. It’s a major service, and Judy and Rena tell us one of the things they get complimented on most is the shuttle service. It’s convenient!” Galli said.
This year there were four commencement ceremonies on Tuesday, and three each on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Our greeters are stationed wherever we have commencement parking, and they give out color-coded cards that say what lot they’re in. That way if they lose their card, we ask what color it was and they can usually remember. Each lot is color-coded,” Galli said.
“Once we direct them back to the cars, we offer a small gift if they return the cards. It’s an incentive for them to hold on to them and use them to find their way back. If they return their card, they get a choice of a ‘Proud UTD Grad Parent’ bumper sticker or one that says ‘UTD graduate.’”