The Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS) is an important service provided by Georgetown University and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) that provides more than 2 million rides annually to Georgetown students, faculty and staff; MedStar employees; and guests to our campuses. As public transportation options in the region evolve and we expand routes and frequency of our GUTS service, we know that safe, efficient and reliable transportation is critical to our community.
Recent Improvements
In recent years, the GUTS system has added 3 new routes, while increasing the frequency of existing routes by 30%. As we expand our presence at the Capitol Campus, we have simplified the route between the Hilltop and Capitol campuses and increased pickup frequency from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes to reduce transit time between campuses.
Current Context and External Considerations
Running a transportation system requires deep expertise, regular maintenance and storage, especially in a complex metropolitan area like Washington, DC.
We take seriously our responsibility to carefully manage the tuition dollars paid by students and their families. Georgetown University, like all institutions of higher education, is facing unprecedented threats to its financial model. As Interim President Groves announced on April 29, 2025, this requires the university to make difficult decisions to limit spending and look for operational efficiencies to protect the academic and research mission of the university. We expect these challenges to continue and it is important that we manage the university resources in the most appropriate way to support our community today, and into the future. If the university were to continue operating GUTS directly, it would require an estimated $60 million investment in capital costs to convert 50 percent of the bus system to zero-emissions by 2030, and to 100 percent by 2045, as required by DC law. The law mandates that 100% of public buses, public fleets, private fleets of more than 50 vehicles, and taxis and limousines are to be zero-emission by 2045 (and 50% zero-emissions by 2030).
In recent years, the university has directly operated and maintained 60% of buses in the GUTS fleet, while a third-party operator has operated and maintained the remainder of the fleet. We believe that at this time that our best course of action is to partner fully with a third-party provider whose primary focus is on leading and managing bus systems.
Future of the GUTS Bus
Moving forward, the university is seeking to assign all of GUTS’ operations to a third party and has identified Abe’s Transportation as the preferred vendor. Abe’s Transportation, a company that has been a university partner for more than a decade, has expertise in transportation that is required to improve operational efficiency and facilitate compliance with the District of Columbia’s zero-emissions vehicle law.
No. This is an essential service for Georgetown, providing 2 million rides annually for the Georgetown and MedStar communities, as well as campus visitors. We are committed to continuing to provide transportation services. And we know that safe, efficient and reliable transportation is foundational in supporting the critical work of our students, faculty and staff.
We know this change would directly affect as many as 18 university-employed GUTS drivers represented by 1199SEIU. We have worked directly with these drivers and 1199SEIU, in an effort to be as transparent as possible, with employees whose roles would be directly impacted by these decisions. To support the broad service levels offered by GUTS, Georgetown has partnered with Abe’s Transportation for many years, supplementing its driving staff with additional personnel. Today, over half of the buses in the Georgetown system are operated by employees of Abe’s. This approach has become increasingly necessary due to rising demand for CDL-licensed drivers in the open market — a challenge that universities across the country have faced in recent years.
We have done similar work before — including our recent energy partnership with Engie — and as in that process, we are now working to ensure that affected employees are treated fairly and respectfully as we manage this transition.
Georgetown is committed to ensuring that any current employees impacted by this transition receive employment with comparable compensation and benefits, unless they accept another position with the university. The university is also committed to continuing benefits through the Tuition Assistance Program for five years for impacted employees and 10 years for their dependents.
Our guiding principle is to provide the most efficient, reliable and safest transportation solution for our community. To that end, we have been exploring how GUTS is operated, both on a day-to-day basis as well as long-term.
Historically, the university has directly managed the transportation system and the fleet associated with supporting GUTS, with support from a third-party provider.
We believe that at this time that our best course of action is to partner fully with a third-party provider whose primary focus is on leading and managing bus systems.
We have also taken into account other external factors: 1) We take seriously our responsibility to carefully manage the tuition dollars paid by students and their families; 2) We are experiencing a time of uncertainty and unpredictability in the relationship between higher education and the federal government, and this is putting serious financial pressure on the university; 3) Local regulations, including the DC law that requires that transportation fleets convert to 50% zero-emissions vehicles by 2030 and 100% by 2045. The third-party we seek to work with will bring resources and expertise to meet these goals.
Over the last few years, we have begun to partner with an external entity to supplement what we were able to do on our own. Currently, the university directly operates and maintains 60% of buses in the GUTS bus fleet, while the third party operates and maintains the remainder of the fleet. Through this experience, we have been able to see firsthand some of the benefits of an external partnership — from the quality of buses and their availability to maintenance and storage.
No, as of October 2. We continue to consult with the potentially-impacted drivers, 1199SEIU, and other relevant stakeholders as we consider this transition.