Stanford Marguerite Shuttle

One of Stanford's Marguerite buses

Marguerite is a free shuttle service Stanford University offers to its students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

Stanford's history of providing free transportation is as old as the university itself. In the late 1880's, while the University was in its construction on the farm of its proprietor, the railroad baron Leland Stanford, Stanford ran a horse and 12-person buggy service to and from the train station just across El Camino Real. In 1909, the horse and buggy gave way to electric streetcars. That lasted until 1929, when the county ripped out the tracks to make room for widening El Camino. A private bus service took the place of rail, and in 1963 the city of Palo Alto agreed to subsidize it. In early 1973, following the formation of the Valley Transportation Authority, Stanford began providing a free shuttle service around campus as well as back and forth to the two local train stations and downtown Palo Alto.

The Marguerite shuttle is named for the horse that pulled the carriage of Asa "Uncle John" Andrews as he ferried people from Palo Alto to Stanford. Marguerite was apparently Andrews' favorite. We are told that Andrews either drove for Jasper Paulsen, who owned a livery stable in Palo Alto, or leased space from him.

Initially designed to make coming to Stanford by train more convenient, the Marguerite remains most popular among staff and faculty. The other major users are students getting from place to place on the spacious campus. All routes on the system are free and open to the public.

Currently, 14 lines run through the campus and provide free transportation to the two Palo Alto Caltrain train stations, Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC), Stanford Shopping Center, and the San Antonio Shopping Center.

The shuttle service serves 180 stops on or around the campus,Palo Alto and Menlo Park; in 2009-2010, it carried some 1.4 million riders; and it runs approximately 75,000 hours a year.

Route list

Stanford Parking & Transportation Services is announcing major changes to Stanford’s Marguerite shuttle routes effective Tuesday, March 1, 2011. The route changes are designed to increase route efficiency, reduce associated vehicle emissions, reduce operational costs, and maintain or improve levels of service for most routes. Current Route information can be found here: http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/MargueriteSched.shtml

1050 Arastradero (1050 A): The 1050 Arastradero shuttle runs Monday through Friday (except university holidays) serving Stanford Hospital at the hospital fountain, Porter Drive, Hillview Avenue, Arastradero Road, returning to Stanford Hospital at the hospital fountain (serving additional stops along the route) every 30 to 40 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 6:20 p.m.

Ardenwood Express (U): The Ardenwood Express shuttle augments the Line U service using a Marguerite shuttle bus. The shuttle originates from the Campus Oval, departing at 3:55 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. Other stops will include Parking Structure 1 at Roth Way, 1101 and 777 Welch Road if necessary. Please note that these two pickups will only go as far as the Ardenwood Park & Ride Lot and will only serve stops if seating is available.

Line C (C): Line C travels between Vi (Classic Residence by Hyatt) on Sand Hill Road and Escondido Village with stops including Stanford Hospital at the hospital fountain, Parking Structure 5 (PS5), and Serra Mall (serving additional stops along the route).

It operates Monday through Friday (except university holidays) every 30 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 8:43 p.m.

Line C Limited provides supplemental service during morning (7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m) and afternoon (4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) peak commutes between LKSC and Escondido Village via Serra Mall/Serra Street.

Medical Center (MC):The Medical Center shuttle makes a counter-clockwise loop around the entire Medical Center complex. Destinations include Parking Structure 5 (PS5), LKSC, Medical Center on Quarry Extension (near the Medical Center Emergency Room), Welch Road, Stanford Hospital at the hospital fountain, Blake Wilbur Drive, returning to Parking Structure 5 (PS5) (serving additional stops along the route).

It operates Monday through Friday (including university holidays), from 5:00 am to 1:20 am (the next day), with departures every 10 minutes during peak commute times (6:30 am to 9:40 am and 1:30 pm to 5:40 pm). Departures during non-peak times will be every 20 minutes.

The Medical Center Limited shuttle operates Monday through Friday (including university holidays), from 6:10 a.m. to 9:42 a.m, with departures every 20 to 37 minutes. Service starts at the Palo Alto Transit Center and ends at the hospital fountain after traveling along Welch Road (serving additional stops along the route).

Line N (N): The Line N shuttle travels in a counter-clockwise direction around campus.

Destinations include downtown Palo Alto, the Oval, Medical Center, West Residences, Santa Teresa Street, Tresidder, Mayfield Avenue, Munger Graduate Residences, Vaden Health Center, Mirrielees, and Escondido Village (along Serra Street), and the Palo Alto Transit Center and downtown Palo Alto (serving additional stops along the route).

It operates 7 nights a week from mid-September to mid-June (excluding university holidays), from 8:05 p.m. until 1:33 a.m., with departures every 40 minutes.

Line O (O):The Line O shuttle travels in a clockwise direction around campus.

Destinations include downtown Palo Alto, Escondido Village (on Olmstead Road parallel to Serra Street), Mirrielees, Vaden Health Center, Munger Graduate Residences, Mayfield Avenue, Tresidder, Santa Teresa Street, West Residences, Medical Center, the Oval and the Palo Alto Transit Center (serving additional stops along the route).

It operates 7 nights a week from mid-September to mid-June (excluding university holidays), from 8:15 p.m. until 1:46 a.m., with departures every 40 minutes.

Line P (P): Line P destinations include the Palo Alto Transit Center, the Stanford Oval, Cantor Arts Center, Medical Center, and Quarry Road at Vineyard Road (serving additional stops along the route). It runs Monday through Friday (excluding university holidays), from 9:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., every 20 minutes.

Line P Express a.m. offers nonstop service between the Palo Alto Transit Center and the Stanford Oval. It runs Monday through Friday (excluding university holidays), from 6:05 a.m. to 9:45 a.m, with departures every 20 minutes from 6:05 a.m. to 6:45 a.m.and every 10 minutes from 6:55 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Line P Express p.m. offers nonstop service between the Palo Alto Transit Center and the Stanford Oval. It runs Monday through Friday (excluding university holidays), from 3:45 p.m. to 8:05 p.m., with departures every 10 minutes from 3:45 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. and every 20 minutes from 6:55 p.m. to 8:05 p.m.

Research Park (RP):The Stanford Research Park shuttle runs to and from the Palo Alto Transit Center to the businesses along Page Mill Road, Porter Drive, Hillview Avenue, Arastradero Road, and Deer Creek Road during the commute times, 6:28 a.m. to 9:52 a.m. and again from 3:45 p.m. to 7:58 p.m., Monday through Friday (except university holidays) with departures every 20-40 minutes.

Line S (S):Line S operates weekday mornings 6:30 a.m. to 8:32 a.m. and weekday evenings 3:30 p.m. to 6:04 p.m., year round (except university holidays). Stops include the Palo Alto Transit Center, Stanford West Apartments, Oak Creek Apartments on Sand Hill Road, the SLAC campus and Rosewood Hotel.

Stanford Menlo Park (SMP): The Stanford Menlo Park shuttle operates Monday through Friday year round (except campus holidays) between Stanford Hospital and Stanford Menlo Park by way of Pasteur Drive @ Sand Hill Road, Staples and Safeway on El Camino, and Menlo Park Caltrain, between 6:48 a.m. and 6:21 p.m., every 30 minutes.

Shopping Express (SE):The Shopping Express operates during the academic year (Sept-June), weekdays from 3:45 p.m. to 9:43 p.m., and weekends from 9:45 a.m. to 10:28 p.m. The area of service includes the residential areas of the University, the Medical Center, and the business districts in Mountain View bordered by El Camino Real, San Antonio Rd. and Showers Avenue. Buses run every 45 minutes.

SLAC (SLAC):The SLAC shuttle operates Monday through Friday year round (except campus holidays) between SLAC and Hoover Tower by way of the Oak Creek Apartments located on Sand Hill Road, West Campus Residences, and the Science & Engineering Quad, from 7:35 a.m. to 9:05 p.m., every 20 minutes until the afternoon peak commute (4:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.) when service is every 15 to 30 minutes.

Line V (V):The Line V shuttle runs Monday through Friday (including university holidays) every 30 minutes from 6:55 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Destinations include Stanford Hospital, LKSC, Serra Mall, Schwab and Knight Centers, Olmsted Road (parallel to Serra Street only), El Camino Real, California Avenue going towards Hanover, Page Mill Road, Porter Drive, Hillview Avenue, and the Palo Alto VA Hospital (serving additional stops along the route).

Line V will provide service from the California Avenue Caltrain station to the Stanford campus during morning peak commutes from 6:35 a.m. to 9:48 a.m., and during afternoon peak commutes from 4:15 p.m. to 6:35 p.m., making all stops along California Avenue.

Line X (X):Line X runs to and from the Palo Alto Transit Center by way of Stanford Shopping Center, the Medical Center via Quarry Extension, LKSC, Tresidder, Vaden Health Center, Schwab and Knight Centers, Alumni Center, Town & Country Village, and Palo Alto Medical Foundation via Urban Lane (with additional stops along the route).

It operates Monday through Friday (except university holidays), 6:05 a.m. to 8:59 p.m., every 20 minutes.

Between 7:20 a.m. and 9:25 a.m., the Line X Limited a.m. shuttle provides supplemental service during the morning peak commute from Palo Alto Transit Center to Y2E2 via the Medical Center.

Between 4:00 p.m. and 6:48 p.m., the Line X Limited p.m. shuttle provides supplemental service during the afternoon peak commute from Serra Street (at Campus Drive) to the Palo Alto Transit Center.

Line Y (Y):Line Y runs to and from the Palo Alto Transit Center by way of Galvez @ El Camino, Alumni Center, Schwab and Knight Centers, Tresidder, Green Earth Sciences, Y2E2, LKSC, Stanford Medical Center via Quarry Extension, and Stanford Shopping Center (serving additional stops along the route).

It operates Monday through Friday (except university holidays), 6:05 a.m. to 8:59 p.m., every 20 minutes.

Between 7:20 a.m. and 9:22 a.m., the Line Y Limited a.m. shuttle provides supplemental service during the morning peak commute from Palo Alto Transit Center to the Alumni Center and Serra Street.

Between 3:54 p.m. and 6:48 p.m., the Line Y Limited p.m. shuttle provides supplemental service during the afternoon peak commute from Y2E2 to the Palo Alto Transit Center via the Medical Center.

External links

• Marguerite Shuttle homepage