Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Of the three educational bus trips organized by Columbia, Mo. city officials, a visit to the University of Illinois showed the largest disparity between the city of Columbia’s bus system, which serves Missouri University, and other school systems.

Local agency Columbia Transit will be discontinuing shuttles to off-campus housing in May.

A student representing the city’s Transit System Task Force claims that city leaders used threats to encourage the task force to accept a proposal to raise fees on college students to help fund Columbia Transit. If a fee increase isn’t approved, the city may be forced to cut $1 million from the bus system, resulting in eliminating routes that serve students.

The Columbia City Council is reconsidering contracts for Columbia Transit routes that run to Missouri University student apartment complexes and provide residents with free rides are no longer viable for the transit system, which is struggling with budget problems.

The trial period will last 90 days and results will be used to determine if this is a viable service that should be continued.