The transformation of Liberty Transit
THE BUS FOR US — Liberty Transit made an effort to educate students on the new system by sending e-mails, posting an announcement and handing out information.
Thousands of Liberty University students were welcomed back to campus with a newly designed bus system formatted specifically to better accommodate their needs.
LU Transit put forth extra effort to ensure that students would be taken care of during this campus-wide adjustment. Methods included packets of information distributed to every dorm room on campus, e-mails sent out to the students and an announcement posted on the university’s website.
To make the transition between systems as smooth as possible, Transit Director Timothy Spencer stationed himself at the DeMoss and North Campus bus stops throughout the first few days. He helped direct students to the buses that they needed while answering any questions that came along.
“I’ve been having fun,” Spencer said with a laugh. “Sometimes I hop on a bus and give a pop quiz about the new system.”
Some of the major changes for the buses included added or removed stops, different routes and new numerical identification.
Formerly known as the LX1, 70 (Liberty Link) travels from Campus North to DeMoss Hall. Buses displaying the numbers 71 and 72 travel around campus clockwise and counter-clockwise respectively, creating a bi-directional system known as the Liberty Loop.
The Hill bus stop was reinstated because of students’ input as well as visibility issues vehicles were experiencing near the Williams Stadium stop, which has been eliminated. The change alleviated some of the congestion, which has been occurring at the campus entrance.
Commuters were also taken into consideration in the creation of this new system. Route 86 visits apartment complexes Walden Pond, Forestbrook, County Green and Old Mill Townhomes. Commuters at these locations can now choose from three different pick up times in the mornings and two returning times later in the day.
Spencer stated that what students do not realize is that these changes were made not only to improve the system, but also to pave the way for Liberty’s future enhancement. Liberty will be installing Route Match, a satelat their stop simply by sending a text message containing the bus number.
The university will be purchasing the technology necessary for Route Match later this spring. Spencer said that they plan to have the system up and running by August 2011.
Over all, students have displayed a good attitude towards the recent changes, reacting more with amusement towards the chaos than irritation.
“I was attempting to go to North and accidentally took a tour of Liberty campus – all of it,” sophomore Donna Ange said.
Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) bus drivers have been extremely supportive of the new system and have taken on the challenge of helping students successfully navigate their way through the routes.
“The kids seem to pick it up pretty fast,” one GLTC bus driver said when asked how the students were doing with the changes.
The drivers were given a chance to learn the routes during the system’s trial run which took place the week before students returned to campus.
By the time the campus was flooded with students, the bus drivers were ready to help reduce the chaos in any way that they could.