JSU Students Can Give Input on Transit System

By Steve Ivey
Star Staff Writer
10-25-2007

Reprinted here in its entirety.

Students at Jacksonville State University can have their say today and Friday on where they’d like to get on the bus. Officials from JSU and the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission will be on the second floor of the Theron Montgomery Building from 9 a.m. to noon to hear opinions on a proposed transit system for the campus.

JSU commissioned a study on a bus system as part of a $1.9 million federal transportation grant the school received in 2004. The Board of Trustees agreed to go forward with plans in April.

At that time, Mickey Hall of Skipper Consulting, a transit consulting firm in Birmingham, recommended JSU establish two campus routes and another through the city of Jacksonville. Jacksonville Mayor Johnny Smith said he did not think the city planned to include itself in the transit system. Hall said a feasibility study found 98 percent of JSU students said they would use a bus system, but he said about 28 percent, or 2,500 students, was a more realistic target for who would use the shuttles daily.

Hall’s original presentation to the board called for three routes from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Two buses each would run on an east and west campus route every five to eight minutes, making 12 to 15 stops on each route. Other buses would run 6 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.

JSU has about 4,600 parking spaces, and about 3,100 of them are occupied during peak times. Hall found about 30 percent of students, faculty and staff who bring cars to campus move them at some point during the day.

To alleviate traffic and make way for the shuttles, Hall suggested restricting parking on Trustee Circle and University Circle to faculty and staff only. Student parking would move to the campus perimeter.

Under the original proposal, students could ride the buses for free, and the public could ride for $1.

The planning commission will have comment cards available at the Theron Montgomery Building. It will also accept feedback by e-mail to earpdc@ adss.alabama.gov.

About Steve Ivey

Steve Ivey covers education for the Star.

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