Bus Routes Change due to new Cyber Building

By Skyler Mitchell |Staff writerWith the development of the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC) underway on Augusta University’s Riverfront Campus, the JagExpress bus routes are expected to shift to accommodate the change.On Feb. 27, AU was presented with the newest plan for transit routes aiming to support the new GCITC, in order to anticipate how it will affect the system in coming years.The Solstice Transportation Group, the company spearheading this project, has spent months doing extensive research into the matter so it will be convenient for future years. The main issue the group has been focusing on is the transit service needed to move students to and from the Riverfront campus.“We start out with what you have now and test what else we can put in place,” said Mitch Skyer, the representative for the Solstice Transportation Group. “Then we rule them out.”The best option that the group recommends is dedicating a few routes between the campuses. This plan will create inbound and outbound stops on all of the campuses so students can have the choice to stop at many points along the bus routes.The group proposes a max number of eight buses so that if any of them were not operational during school hours, the change in frequency of the buses would remain minimal.There is also the idea to create an “Orange” route, a lighter route for students that are in class outside of fall, summer, or spring semesters.Skyer pointed out that there are plans to create parking lots to avoid students parking off campus, as there have been complaints about that issue over the years.Skyer also brought up the concern of the student transport fee increasing, claiming that while the rise may be inevitable, there is hope that it will not.He also encourages students that do use the transit system to avoid waiting for certain buses, claiming that “it’s not bad to be there early.” He cites that buses can arrive late and encourages students not to be picky.Overall, the group is very optimistic in their hopes for the routes.“The reason why we are confident in these recommendations,” Skyer said at the end of the meeting, “is because you already have a flexible route now.”Other than a slight loss of parking expected by the group during the construction phase, operations at the university are expected to remain at normal range. Feel free to contact office officials for any questions on bus routes and any changes in the near future. Contact Skyler Mitchell at skmitchell@augusta.edu.