[PAmedic]

https://www.liberty.edu/financeadmin/au ... N=16853862

Liberty University's new on-campus transit system will begin operation Friday, October 13.

These operations represent a portion of the overall campus transit system, and will run on the existing road infrastructure.

Three to four buses will operate 2 separate campus loops between 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, with some services to be offered initially on Saturday.

Transit buses will be open to all current students, staff, and faculty at no charge.

All initial service routes are intended to provide immediate transportation support and will assist the University in the implementation of the overall campus transit system which will include the construction of new roads for transit purposes.

Liberty University will enforce all existing traffic and parking regulations.


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Please note:

LU will enforce all existing parking and transportation regulations as found in the 2006-2007 parking regulations (http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?pid=1228)
All initial service routes are intended to provide immediate transportation support and will assist the University in the implementation of the overall campus transit system which will include the construction of new roads for transit purposes.
Students and employees are not permitted to park their vehicle outside of the parking areas that have been designated to each of the parking permits.
» Immediate job opening available for students that have a current CDL class B license with airbrake and passenger endorsements (past school bus operational experience will be strongly considered). Please contact the Director of Campus Transit Services at 592-4739 if you are interested in driving buses on the campus.




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Transit Lines Descriptions:

Red Line

This line provides rapid service from DeMoss Hall/Vines Center at P4 to the Campus North South Entrance at P38.

Each bus is estimated to make six full loops an hour. Initially, two buses will be run on this line from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Friday. This line is estimated to be able to service each stop every six minutes.

Blue Line

This line provides services from portions of Campus East to Campus North and the Main Campus. Service originates from DeMoss Hall/Vines Center and proceeds to the Campus East/P22 walkway connector. A stop is made in front of E24 before proceeding to the LaHaye Student Center. The bus will then stop at the Campus North South Entrance before returning to DeMoss Hall/Vines Center.

Each bus is estimated to complete 3-4 complete loops per hour. Initially, one bus will be run at a minimum; additional buses will be run based on driver availability. This line is estimated to be able to service each stop every 15-20 minutes.

PDF map of initial transit lines and stops: Transit Map

[bigsmooth]

what should this service be called? i know nc state's is called the "wolfline"

[Rocketfan]

what should this service be called? i know nc state's is called the "wolfline"

It depends how long this actually lasts and how often the buses break down, i vote - Burnout

Immediate job opening available for students that have a current CDL class B license with airbrake and passenger endorsements - i have nightmares of crashes already, are you kidding me?

[El Scorcho]

It depends how long this actually lasts and how often the buses break down, i vote - Burnout

Immediate job opening available for students that have a current CDL class B license with airbrake and passenger endorsements - i have nightmares of crashes already, are you kidding me?

Now there's that positive LU attitude I can't get enough of!

[A.G.]

How about "Rapid Fire" for the system name?

[bigsmooth]

nice A.G. i hope they get someone other than students to drive these buses.

[PAmedic]

saw the buses running all weekend- looked like a decent system to me, but who knows. Hope the kids take advantage of it- I know an old hag who would appreciate NOT having to walk all the time

a source told me that the school has new buses on order, as well- with delivery poss as early as this month? Not sure on the timeline. But nice to see the investment in the future, here.

[PAmedic]

For those of you on campus; how's this effort going?

did the talk of new busses ever materialize?

[thepostman]

no new buses yet, but i hear they are ordered...they just exteneded the time and the buses will run until 10pm...a lot of resident students are complaining because they can no longer park at north campus until 4:30....but from what I can tell its a good system...the 2 routes have been extended, the red route will go around the cirlce and the blue route will have a stop up near the east campus clubhouse. I haven't heard anybody complain about the service itself, so i think its running pretty smoothly...my girlfriend has used it and said its pretty dependable....I only have one class on north campus and live off campus so it doesn't effect me much.....

so really all i am trying to say is, besides the kids complaining about not being able to park at campus north now (which is a GOOD idea because there really isn't enough parking, they won't let students park at the new thomas road parking lots, which was the plan all along) I think the whole bus thing is working well.....that is my 2 cents

[LU'sbestmanager]

i think it's going pretty good. with the time extension and new stops, it should be better

[PAmedic]

https://www.liberty.edu/financeadmin/au ... N=63484786

LU Campus Transit Enhancement Update

Dear Students,

Liberty University Campus Transit Service will be making a number of enhancements to the existing bus routes beginning Monday, October 30.

Blue Line Route Map

This route servicing Campus East will be modified to include a stop across the street from the Campus East Clubhouse (next to the ramp leading to the tunnel). To accommodate this route in a timely manner, the existing stop in P-22 Crosswalk will be eliminated effective Monday October 30. Students using the P-22 Crosswalk should go to either the Clubhouse or next to E-24 to catch the Blue Line.

Red Line Route Map

This route servicing the Main Campus – North Campus corridor will now include services around Champion Circle. A bus stop will be added at the crosswalk by Residence Hall 5 and in front of Residence Halls 27/28 across the street from the Keyhole Convenience Store. Also, a bus stop will be added at the current stop sign at the intersection of Liberty University Blvd and Eagle Run (Vines Center). We will be adding an additional bus to this line to accommodate the increased length of this route.

All vehicles operating around the circle: the buses will be stopping in the road for the stops listed above. Vehicles are prohibited from passing the buses.

Hours of Operation extended to 10 PM

Also beginning Monday October 30, we will extend the hours of operation to 10 PM. Beginning at 5:00 PM, two buses will run the Red and Blue Routes described above. Each bus is expected to complete 3 full loops per hour.

Please refer to the route maps above for modified campus routes.

might have been a good idea to use a brighter red/blue on the map- its sorta "Black" and "Dark Burgundy"
Where's HMO when you need him

Great to see the project up and running though- good things happening on the mountain. Now, about EMS

[PeterParker]

Their supposed to be putting this Light Rail system down in Norfolk. Albeit pricey, perhaps if LU can come close to a large endowment someday, they can replace the buslines with this (or name it after some Apocalyptic Novelists or craft store magnate...)

http://traffixonline.org/lrt/Media/simulation.htm Wait a few seconds for the full effect.

[thepostman]

good plan pete...I am all for it....just imagine the only college with a light rail system..but what is more important, light rail or artificial snow for the ski slopes??

[A.G.]

From the "official" LU scribe at the fishwrap:

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... ws!archive
LU leaning toward GLTC's proposal

Ron Brown
rbrown@newsadvance.com
November 5, 2006

Liberty University is looking favorably on a proposal for a Greater Lynchburg Transit Co.-run shuttle service on campus.

The proposal would have GLTC running five buses each day on several routes around the campus.

“We’re really pleased with what we see,” said Jerry Falwell Jr., LU’s vice chancellor. “We’re leaning towards signing an agreement with them.”

GLTC’s proposal would require LU to pay just under $49,000 a year per bus, a figure comparable to the amount paid by Virginia Tech for bus service in Blacksburg.

The GLTC shuttle, which would begin operation in January, would replace LU’s in-house shuttle service, which began operations last month.

School officials said Friday that the LU shuttle service is handling about 20,000 passengers a week, but it has been hampered by mechanical breakdowns and a lack of qualified drivers.

The school’s shuttle service was started while LU negotiated with GLTC.

The proposed shuttle system would operate between 7 a.m. and midnight during the week and about 13 to 14 hours a day on weekends.

GLTC plans to use buses from Valley Metro in Roanoke, which is run by First Transit, the same company that manages GLTC operations.GLTC estimated that it could run the service next semester for about $350,000, a tad more than it would cost LU to run its own system.

The school estimates the LU-run shuttle for next semester would cost $337,000.

GLTC said it could run the service for about $700,000 per school year. It can possibly get federal and state grants to supplement the money LU must pay into the system.

If LU ran the shuttle system on its own, it would not qualify for the grants.

“Being that GLTC works for a municipality, they are eligible for grants through the (Virginia) Department of Rail and Public Transportation,” said Richard A. Martin, LU director of financial research and analysis. “After the first year, they are eligible for a 35 to 40 percent cost matching.”

Martin said new systems, like LU’s, also are eligible for other grants that pay up to 95 percent of the operating costs and 100 percent of the capital costs. The grants will likely not begin until fall 2007, forcing LU to pay a larger amount for the second semester of this school year.

When those grants are applied, LU would pay only about $35,000 for the shuttle system for each of its first two years, Martin said.

“GLTC is going to be able to get money that we can’t to lower our total operational cost,” said S. Lee Beaumont, LU’s director of auxiliary services.

“It is going to take the headache away from us of maintaining buses. As we have seen, we have really beaten up our existing fleet. Every bus we have has broken down in the last couple of weeks. Their proposal is superior to us doing it on our own.”

Barry N. Moore, an LU vice president of university relations, said the shuttle service could be only part of an expanded GLTC presence on the school’s Lynchburg campus.

Moore said school officials are still trying to interest GLTC in routes that would transport the school’s students and employees from apartment complexes throughout the city.

“We just want to have a win,” Moore said. “We really want our students to be able to go throughout the city. I’m sure the business people out there want our students to be able to go throughout the city. First, we got to get a working relationship with GLTC before we can move forward and do other things.”

[Purple Haize]

Please remeber and be respectful. The shorter buses are for SCAR and PA. THank you.

[LU'sbestmanager]

i like that idea. no more asking for a ride to get to the mall for me.

[PAmedic]

apparently.

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... ws!archive

GLTC, LU ink deal on buses

By Ron Brown and Conor Reilly
The News & Advance
November 10, 2006

Liberty University and the Greater Lynchburg Transit Co. agreed Friday to have GLTC run an on-campus shuttle service starting in January.

Liberty Vice Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. accepted the GLTC proposal via e-mail Friday afternoon.

The GLTC shuttle would replace a shuttle service operated by the university.

“GLTC has a lot more experience operating transit systems than we do,” Falwell Jr. said. “I think it will mean better and more dependable transportation on campus for students. I think it will become a real asset and will improve the traffic flow on campus.”

Mike Carroll, GLTC’s general manager, said details of the agreements are still being worked out.

“It’s an agreement in principle right now,” he said. “We’ll be working together with the staff at Liberty over the next month or so to work out all the details. We’re excited about it and are looking forward to a successful relationship.”

The plan would have GLTC running five buses each day on several routes around the campus.

LU will pay about $350,000 each semester for the service.

“I think it is positive,” Carroll said. “It’s not going to be a windfall for us. Liberty will be paying us the cost of the service we’re providing to them.”

City Manager Kimball Payne agreed.

“Anytime a transit system can expand, it’s going to make it stronger,” he said. “But I’m presuming, without knowing, that the arrangement is not going to be the salvation of GLTC’s budget.”

The city allocates the bus company about $1.8 million in local money for both operations and capital expenses.

GLTC officials have had to ask the city for more money each year to maintain current service levels. With the exception of Madison Heights, the bus company does not serve the area surrounding Lynchburg, including heavily populated Forest and Campbell County’s Timberlake Road.

Payne also said LU’s participation could broaden GLTC’s customer profile.

“Transit a lot of times is seen as being there only for the disadvantaged or low-income,” he said. “We’re really missing an opportunity here.”

With GLTC in charge, LU is not responsible for mechanical breakdowns or for maintaining and recruiting qualified drivers.

GLTC could qualify for federal and state grants to supplement the money LU pays for the system.

If LU ran the shuttle system on its own, it would not qualify for the grants.

With GLTC in charge, the shuttle bus service is eligible for other grants that pay up to 95 percent of the operating costs and 100 percent of the capital costs for two years.

If those grants were applied, LU would pay only about $35,000 for the shuttle system for each of its first two years.

About 20,000 students are riding the school-operated shuttle each week.

If student ridership holds, the agreement could mean at least a 50 percent increase in GLTC’s annual ridership.

The school will likely reconfigure the parking fees it charges students to help pay for the shuttle.

“The shuttle fee will be less than we charged this year for the parking and traffic fee,” Falwell Jr. said.

Money from the parking and traffic fees will be used to construct new parking lots and a perimeter road, which will loop the campus.

“As we grow, we will need more parking lots,” Falwell Jr. said. “Most of our roads are private roads and Liberty has to maintain them. With the shuttle, we won’t have to build as many parking lots and roads, so the fees should decrease. I think it’s going to be a better deal for the students in the long run.”

The shuttle agreement may be only the first phase of a broader public transportation agreement between GLTC and LU.

“This is an important first step,” Falwell Jr. said. “We think this will be a good revenue source for GLTC as well. The little on-campus shuttle we have operated has been very popular in the last month.”

The shuttle service has been prodded along by restrictions on the movement of student cars on campus during the day.

No longer are on-campus students allowed to move their cars from main campus to north campus during the day, thus cutting down traffic congestion and easing demand for parking spaces in north campus parking lots.

“We’ve received some complaints about that enforcement,” Falwell Jr. said. “But we’ve grown to the point that we really don’t have a choice.”

LU is lengthening the time between classes to 20 minutes to allow students to get there by bus.

“Some of them are having a little trouble at peak times,” he said.

Falwell Jr. said he hopes even greater GLTC involvement with the school could ease traffic congestion on public roads near the campus. The school is currently working on a plan to build two tunnels that will give buses and other vehicles better access to Wards Road.

Payne said he plans to meet with Falwell Jr. soon to discuss the tunnel project. Outside of LU’s walls, the city is in the early stages of planning pedestrian improvements to key areas on Wards Road.

“I think tying Liberty’s campus more closely to Wards Road, Candlers Mountain and (U.S.) 460 is all a positive thing,” Payne said.

LU plans to continue negotiations with GLTC to broaden bus service to and from the campus to key retail areas and housing complexes throughout the city by the beginning of the new school year in late summer 2007.

About 40 percent of Liberty’s 9,600 residential students live off campus this year.

If LU’s current growth pattern continues, the number of residential students next fall will top the 10,000 mark.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, LU’s co-founder and chancellor, has set a goal of 25,000 students on campus over the next 10 years.

LU could have an arrangement with GLTC similar to Virginia Tech’s arrangement with Blacksburg Transit.

Students and employees can ride Blacksburg Transit without paying a fare each time. The school collects fees from students and pays Blacksburg Transit two large semi-annual payments. Charlottesville Transit Service is considering a similar arrangement with the University of Virginia.

[PAmedic]

nice to see we're being proactive here. Still think a big parking garage in the pit or poss P-1 would be a good solution.

and I had no idea LU had "walls"

[SuperJon]

The big question: how much more are we paying next year?

[thepostman]

The big question: how much more are we paying next year?

that is what I keep wondering. They said in the past that our parking fees would go towards that and there wouldn't be a new fee, but for some reason I think they will add a new fee simply because Liberty like every other medium to large college in America loves fees and will add a new one every chance they get...so really the question remains, how much will this fee be.

[Hold My Own]

there is no set price yet...but expect the cost to be below $300 (Parking fee and transit combined)

[SuperJon]

As long as it doesn't go up, it's fine with me.

[PAmedic]

HMO- will the service be avail to alum and/or visitors?

if so, will we pay per ride, or do we need to get tokens, or what?

(somehow I'm thinking my student ID from 1988 aint gonna cut it- not that I resemble the photo in the least, nor could I find the thing if my life depended on it)

[SuperJon]

Did you have the porno stache then?

[PAmedic]

negative- beautiful mullet though.

ah- those were the days