Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

New fleet will be completely in place by early January, with each new bus equipped with features that add efficiencies and safety to the shuttle service.

Services will be offered at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to complement the urban lifestyle of the university's surrounding community.

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit operates 34 routes using a fleet of 55 buses, including eight electric diesel hybrid buses. The system originates from three systems operated by the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County and Cornell University, with each stemming as far back as far as a half of a century.

University leaders who were previously concerned that the trains would endanger walkers and cyclists said that Maryland MTA has since addressed those issues. The University’s support gives a major boost to the project as transit officials seek federal funding.

The University budgeted almost $772,000 in 2010 for fuel costs, but in 2011 that number jumped to almost $829,000. As part of their preparation, they partnered with the Central Ohio Transit Authority, which allows students to ride city buses by showing their BuckID at a cost to the student of $9 every quarter.

After research recently conducted by a Ferris task force yielded sufficient interest from students, prospective students and faculty, the university will move forward with The Rapid bus service to the main campus in Big Rapids.

Zimride, an online ridesharing social network, will be available to the campus community free of charge. The University Housing and Parking & Transit departments will fund the program.

With choices ranging from on-campus car sharing services to fare-free public transportation, more and more Spartans are choosing to try alternative means of getting to and from campus.

University and Tucson officials say the project addresses the need to connect some of the city's major centers, and will benefit students, local residents and visitors without further aggravating traffic.

Project cost is estimated at $16.2 million, which includes the purchase of 12 hybrid buses. Annual operating cost is expected to be $3.3 million, and all funding will come from a local half-cent sales tax approved by voters.