New SU bus to be put into operation in near future

To provide more efficient service to the Southern University campus and surrounding area, a new after hours shuttle will be implemented to cater to the needs of students.
Under the auspices of Carey Ash, junior class senator and senate president pro-tempore and Kevin Johnson, deputy administrator for the Southern University Police Department, the new shuttle will be larger and accommodate students with special needs as compared to the current available shuttle.
Similar to Louisiana State University’s Campus Transit system, developed in the 1980s as an answer to student’s security concerns when traveling at night, Ash said he was concerned about Southern females who may desire to go to the library or other places at night but could not for safety reasons.
“I mentioned to Mr. Kevin Johnson and both the previous police chief and the current one that something needed to be done for students who needed to move around campus late at night,” Ash said. “I feel that two things always need to be ensured for the students: their safety and their security.”
In the future, a student can call a telephone number from any location on campus and the surrounding area and be picked up from any location on campus.
“The old system was not highly publicized nor were the vans of the best quality as they could only transport a few students at a time,” Ash said.
Ash said, the vans were often times unreliable maintenance wise.
“In order to solve this problem, I spoke with Mr. Johnson and suggested to him that a new vehicle may be the way to go because a newer more modern and spacious vehicle would solve our problems,” he said. “The new vehicle would serve as a grand re-opening of sorts, being a very visible sign that the program is still up and running.”
The new vehicle will be able to seat approximately 12 to 15 persons and have handicap capabilities.
“Another positive point that is going to come out of this new bus endeavor is not only what it would mean for students at night, but also during the day,” Ash said.
Ash said after expressing concern to the police department about the distances students have to walk from the back of campus to classes and then from one class to another, the bus will run in connection with JagTrain.
“I proposed that a route and schedule be developed and that various stops on campus be established so that the van can run along the inside of campus and JagTrain on the outside,” Ash said.
One concern primarily by students is the number of after hours in which the bus will run after 5 p.m.
“I usually have to call an hour ahead of time,” said Eryka Butler, a sophomore psychology major from Oakland.
Sherell Williams, a junior nursing major from Shreveport agrees, but expressed additional concern with JagTrain.
Williams said it runs good in the morning, but not as so in the afternoons.
“When it rains, I usually have to wait about 30 minutes,” she said. “I usually walk most of the time.”
Ash said the current hours are usually from about 5 p.m. to midnight, but collaborators are working on extending them.
When the new system becomes active, officials will notify students.
Kevin Johnson was not available at press time to comment.