LSU Tiger Trails

Last updated
LSU Tiger Trails
TigerTA Closeup.jpg
SloganThe LSU Transit System
Founded2009
Headquarters Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Locale Louisiana State University
Service areaLSU Campus & Surrounding LSU Community
Routes15
Fleet23
OperatorFirst Transit
Website https://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/tigertrails/
Tiger Trail's International bus type LSU International TTBus.jpg
Tiger Trail's International bus type
TransLoc Choosing Agency, Screen shot on Android Bionic PickUniversity TransLoc.png
TransLōc Choosing Agency, Screen shot on Android Bionic
TransLoc Choosing Route, Screen shot on Android Bionic PickRoute TransLoc.png
TransLōc Choosing Route, Screen shot on Android Bionic
TransLoc Regular Hour Routes, Screen shot on Android Bionic RegularHoursRoutes TransLoc.png
TransLōc Regular Hour Routes, Screen shot on Android Bionic

LSU Tiger Trails is the alternative transportation system providing bus service for students, faculty, staff and visitors, both on and off the campus of Louisiana State University. [1] The LSU transit system is operated by First Transit, under contract with LSU's Office of Parking & Transportation Services, formerly known as the Office of Parking, Traffic & Transportation. [1] There are a total of 31 buses in the Tiger Trails fleet. During daytime operating hours, the transit system is capable of operating up to 21 buses during peak hours with three back-up, and six small buses for on demand service. [2]

Louisiana State University university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Louisiana State University is a public research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy. The current LSU main campus was dedicated in 1926, consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, and the main campus historic district occupies a 650-acre (2.6 km²) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River.

First Transit, Inc. is a United States-based subsidiary of FirstGroup.

Contents

History

From 1974 to 2009, Louisiana State University used Baton Rouge's Capital Area Transit System to transport its students, faculty and visitors on and off campus. [2] The motion to create LSU Tiger Trails arose in 2008 due to poor bus service and unfulfilled requirements offered by Baton Rouge's Capital Area Transit System (CATS). The Student Government of LSU, along with the Office of Parking & Transportation Services, received complaints filed against both the service and drivers of CATS. [2] The LSU Student government requested that the university ask CATS to improve their service. After several requests by LSU asking for CATS to improve on their shortcomings, followed by no actions taken by CATS; the university began taking the initial steps of breaking away from the CATS contract and starting their own transit system.

Beginnings

In September 2008, the president and senior consultant of Solstice Transportation Consulting, Mitch Skyer came to meet with "Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic & Transportation [sic]," along "with administration, Student Government, transportation officials and passenger representatives" to initiate contact and being to evaluate the transit system. [3] The Solstice Transportation Group held public forums, generated questionnaires, and researched the surrounding area of LSU for population of the LSU community. [2] With the findings of the Solstice Transportation Group, they then mapped projections of routes which the buses should take to maximize usage and reduce route completion time. [2] Solstice Transportation Group presented their projections to the committee in charge of deciding the matter, and the committee was in favor of the outcome of Solstice's projections. [2] LSU put the projections of their new system up for bid to multiple transportation companies. [2] Out of the several companies who submitted their own proposals, First Transit won the bid because they were well priced and responsible. [2]

Before Tiger Trails became 'Tiger Trails,' the LSU student body, facility and staff voted on an appropriate name. The top three most popular names were Tiger Trails, Easy Tiger, and Geaux Tiger, respectively. [4] Tiger Trails took the majority of the vote with 47.3 percent, followed by Easy Tiger commanding 33.4 percent and Geaux Tiger with 19.3 percent. [4]

Current fleet

There are two types of buses in the fleet. The majority of the fleet consists of the 'Eldorado' buses costing around $300,000. There are ten 30 ft and fifteen 40 ft Eldorados. These are the bigger of the two with flat fronts, and are used for the fixed routes.

The other type is the 'Glavel' buses which is built on a Ford truck or van chassis with a passenger cab, and cost around $150,000. There are two E550 vans and four F550 buses. These are used for on demand services running from 5:30pm-midnight 7 days a week. [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 "LSU Tiger Trails". LSU Office of Parking, Traffic & Transportation. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Graham, Gary (2011-10-07). "About LSU Tiger Trails" (Interview). Interviewed by Andrew Lissy. Baton Rouge: Director of the Office of Parking, Traffic & Transportation (LSU).
  3. Kennedy, Katie (18 September 2008). "Bus consultant to arrive Wednesday: Skyer plans five days to evaluate system". The Daily Reveille. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  4. 1 2 Schwelm, Andy (14 July 2009). "Students vote to name new system 'Tiger Trails'". The Daily Reveille. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2 November 2011.