Redline, a new route on the Huskie Bus Line, will make its first run to downtown DeKalb businesses tonight.

It is the first late-night route providing scheduled service to the downtown area.

The route will take 40 minutes to complete, and runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The Redline will make stops on Lincoln Highway, Greek Row, College Park and at the residence halls.

Student Association President Craig Marcus and Aaron Langguth, SA’s director of transportation, will be present at the first run.

The SA has not released specific numbers on how many people they expect to ride the new line or how many riders it would take to be deemed a success.

“New routes take time to build up ridership,” said Allison Thompson, SA’s director of public affairs. “Hopefully this will be something students will use.”

A possible expansion of the Redline to Wednesday nights as well is a possibility if the route is successful, Langguth said.

Redline was advertised in the Northern Star with a start date of Sept. 16, but was later changed to today.

“It was a publicity thing,” Langguth said. “It never really was meant for the 16th.”

A change in SA advisers, from former adviser Rick Clark to new adviser Nolan Davis, did have a small effect on when the line was going to start.

“It was getting Nolan up to speed on what was going on,” Langguth said. “That took a couple days.”

The new line did not require adding a new bus, only adding gas and maintenance expenses and more bus drivers, Thompson said.

Adding more drivers to the roster for the new line can be a lengthy process, said Charles Battista, general manager of the Huskie Bus Line.

Currently, the Huskie Line has about 65 bus drivers, with almost every driver being a student, Battista said.

Huskie Redline hourly route schedule

HSC(east side) :00 :20

Newman Center :01 :21

Greenbrier and Normal :03 :23

Ridge and Normal :04 :24

Ridge at Amber Manor :06 :26

Ridge and Blackhawk :07 :27

Blackhawk and Edgebrook :08 :28

Blackhawk and Hillcrest :09 :29

Pappas and Hillcrest :10 :30

Varsity and Annie Glidden :11 :31

Rec Center :13 :33

Douglas Dr. and Grant East :14 :34

Grant Drive North :14 :34

Stevenson Drive North :15 :35

Stevenson Drive South :15 :35

Lincoln Hwy. at Lincolnshire West :17 :37

Lincoln Hwy. at Dollar Video :18 :38

Lincoln Hwy. at Quiznos :20 :40

Lincoln Hwy. at Pizza Villa :21 :41

Lincoln Hwy. at Normal :22 :42

Lincoln Hwy. at Walgreens :24 :44

Lincoln Hwy. at Second Street :26 :46

Lincoln Hwy. at Third :27 :47

Lincoln Hwy. at Tom and Jerry’s :34 :54

Lucinda and Normal (HSC) :40 :00