University bus transit system on roll across Plains
ROBERT SMITH/Photo Editor
Dusty Williams, a senior in communications, boards the Wire Road route bus in front of Haley Center.
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By Maxine Clayton
News Staff
Students do not need to worry anymore about parking, traffic or the long walk to class because the transit system could alleviate many of their headaches.
Since the transit system's debut last week, the buses have transported between 200 to 300 students per day, Greg Lund, manager of transportation services, said. The West Magnolia Avenue route was the busiest last week.
The transit system is expected to grow slowly as students become more familiar with the buses, he said.
Theresa Dunn, bus driver of the West Magnolia Avenue route, said, "Some students do not know about the transit system. They have looked at me and wondered why I was there."
Students pay a mandatory transit fee of $10 a quarter as part of their tuition.
The buses operate Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The students need their student ID card to use the bus.
Flyers of the various bus routes can be obtained at the Foy Union information desk or from some of the bus drivers.
"Students should tell their friends about the buses," Dunn said.
The buses run every 10 minutes and end their routes in front of Haley Center. The Wire Road bus runs every 15 minutes.
The West Magnolia and Wire Road routes have two buses each. The Internal Campus route has one bus.
"Students should use the buses because they do not have to worry about traffic. There will be no fussing about parking spaces," Dunn said.
Lund said, "Auburn has needed this system for a long time. I graduated in '78 and we needed it back then.
"The buses will not make students late for class because of the 10 minute headway. If there is a problem, we will fix it," he said.
Jim Ferguson, vice president of administrative services, brought the transit system to Auburn and has set up the recommended routes.
"He is the guiding force for the transit system," Lund said.
Dixie Excursions has a three-year contract with the University to provide the buses for the transit system.
"If more buses are needed to fulfill the demand by students, Dixie Excursions will provide us with the buses," Lund said.
Bus stop signs will be placed in front of the designated stops beginning the first week of July, Lund said. "There might be stops added. Everything is not set in stone, and there will be modifications.
"In the future, bus shelters will be built. Because of the high traffic in fall, the curbs will be cut away to fit the buses," Lund said.
The Metro route is being negotiated with the Lee-Russell Council of Government for students to have access to the Auburn fixed route system (Lee County Transit Authority or LETA). LETA operates from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The LETA transit system will run every hour and will have stops at the Village Mall, K-Mart, Dean Road, Kroger, Haley Center, Magnolia, North Ross and various streets surrounding Auburn. Students wanting to use LETA should call its office and make arrangements for it to pick them up.
The Internal Campus bus covers Mell Street, P.O. Davis Drive, Duncan Drive and Thach Avenue. The stops are located at Haley Center, Foy Union, the Agricultural Engineering building, the student parking lot on Lem Morrison Drive, Terrell Dining Hall, Dunn Hall and Allison Lab.
The West Magnolia Avenue route covers Thach Avenue, Beech, Magnolia Avenue, Donahue Drive, Dormitory Drive, Mell Street, Samford Avenue and Duncan Drive.
This route serves the Carolyn Draughon Village (CDV) Extension, the old CDV, fraternity houses and housing areas near West Magnolia Avenue.
The stops are located at CDV laundry, CDV Extension Kitchen, Lowder Business Building, Haley Center, Foy Union, the Agricultural Engineering building, Goodwin Hall and Allison Lab.
The Wire Road route covers Wire Road, Lem Morrison Drive, Biggio Drive, South Donahue Drive, Thach Avenue and Samford Avenue. The stops are located at University Park, Ridgewood, Gentilly Station, Conways, Barrons, Mr. Friendly's, McAdory Hall, Greene Hall, Intramural Field, Haley Center, Foy Union, the Agricultural Engineering building and Goodwin Hall.
There will be a contest at the end of summer for students to name the transit system, Lund said.
"Many students refer to the transit system as the Auburn University Transit System or the Campus Area Transit System," he said.
Students that have questions or comments about the transit system should contact Greg Lund at (334) 844-5937 or Dixie Excursions at (334) 887-6294.
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