The Student Association Mass Transit Board has set new hours and has obtained a new bus for handicapped student transportation this semester, but one student said the new system is not problem-free.

Board Chairman Dave Emerick said the new system went into effect Tuesday and “should be able to accommodate every handicapped student on campus.”

The service will be available for handicapped students from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, 12 noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Emerick said the new vehicle, rented by the board from the Voluntary Action Center of DeKalb, is funded with $13,000 of student fees.

“What handicapped students have to realize is that last year this service cost more than $30,000. That’s a lot of money. We’re making every effort to accommodate the handicapped students,” he said.

Emerick said the board attempted to provide handicapped transportation last year, but he said the vehicle rented by the board had a faulty wheelchair/scooter lift.

“Last year the only problem was the bus itself,” said NIU handicapped student Susan Haas. “The time schedule was good then, and the service could accommodate all of us. Now the bus lift is OK, but most of us can’t be accommodated with this time schedule.”

She said “at least one person I know was turned down by the service (Wednesday) night.”

Emerick said he will investigate the matter. He added, however, that the service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. “If the bus is full, (students) will just have to give the driver a couple of minutes to finish the run he is on,” he said.

Linda Sorge, coordinator of services for the handicapped, said there are nine physically impaired students in wheelchairs or scooters who have the opportunity to use the new service. Both physically and visually impaired students use the service.

The first SAMTB meeting of the year will take place Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. in Holmes Student Center room 406.