The Student Association Mass Transit Board took an action Monday night that just might save someone’s life.

The committee approved committee member Matt Kouzes’ motion to add a bus stop on the Weekend 3 Route in front of the Lincoln Residence Hall to replace stop 22 on Crane Drive, near the University Plaza. Riders who board the bus at stop 22 will be able to board on nearby stop 21, located on Annie Glidden Road, Kouzes said.

The route change should help prevent pedestrian-accidents such as the one that killed NIU student Karri Botz Sept. 17, he said.

The route will stay the same, but will turn right on Lincoln Drive North and stop at the heating plant between the Grant Towers Residence Complex and the Lincoln Residence Hall instead of turning left on Crane Drive. The route will proceed left on Stadium Drive East, left on Lucinda Avenue and stop at the Lincoln Residence Hall, then continue on Lucinda Avenue to the Holmes Student Center. The change will go into effect Friday.

“It is unfortunate that it takes an incident like the one two weeks ago to show that change is needed,” SAMTB Chairman Dave Emerick said. The stop will provide “more access (for pedestrians) to get to their destinations in a safer way,” he said.

The route change can be completed without any additional cost, said Huskie Bus System General Manager Paul Johnson. The change will add two to three minutes, “which is acceptable for the route,” he said.

In other business, the committee’s bid to purchase five handicap-accessable vehicles was approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation, with the stipulation the State pay for 20 percent of the net projected cost of $800,000, committee member Robin Purdy-Lee said.

The five vehicles will be able to accommodate 75 to 90 passengers. Emerick said the SAMTB is working “very closely” with the Center for Handicapped Students to ensure all handicapped students will be able to board the vehicles.

“This is the beginning of what’s going to be a very good handicap service on this campus… and it is a long time coming,” Emerick said.

SAMTB committee member Mike Cassman updated the committee on the status of the recently adopted Late Night Ride Service. He said the service provided transportation for 32 people during the past weekend. Seventy-five percent of the riders were female, 50 percent were in groups and 50 percent rode individually he said.

The committee decided to hold a 6 p.m. budget meeting Thursday in the SA conference room. The meeting will discuss different scenarios calling for different amounts of a student bus fee increase as needed, Emerick said.