Regular Bus Line Service between Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe

[BearDawg137]

Hello y'all, I'm a 2013 engineering grad. As an out-of-state student, I always had trouble getting to Ruston from the Monroe/Shreveport Airports. I would either have to rent-a-car, take a $60+ taxi, or get a friend to pick me up from Ruston (I didn't think about the greyhound service). Further, as I'm sure many of you are well aware, Ruston doesn't have much more to offer for entertainment than Tech Sports (when going on), a few amenities, LOTS of churches, and Mother Nature. In fact, it was for this reason that most students would go home on the weekends, especially after football season. If more students had regular access to the larger amenities of Monroe/Shreveport on a regular basis, where they could take short day trips between these cities, I believe that Tech could have more people around.

Therefore, what do you think if Tech, possibly partnering with the city of Ruston, city of Shreveport, city of Monroe, LSUS, and ULM, started a regular bus line that visits the cities 2-4 times a day, stopping at

• ULM,
• Monroe Airport,
• Monroe Bus Station,
• Monroe Mall,
• West Monroe,
• Ruston Wall Mart (or other northside locale),
• Tech's Ruston Campus (maybe near the football stadium and/or by admissions),
• Tech's Bossier Campus
• Shreveport city center
• Shreveport Boardwalk,
• Shreveport Bus Station
• Shreveport Airport
• LSUS/LSUHSC

Maybe 3 permanent stops for the buses would be on Tech Campus, Monroe Bus Station, and Shreveport Bus Station. Regular stops at those locations would be 8AM, 12PM, 4PM, and 8PM, or some other times. Charge from Monroe to Tech would be $10 for students (ULM, LSUS/LSUHSC, and Tech, and below university only), $15 for non-students. Cost from Shreveport to Tech would be $15-20 for students, and $20-30 for non students. Cost from Monroe to Shreveport would be $25-30 for students, and $35-45.

As for benefits for Tech, I have compiled this list:

• More people can easily attend Tech Home Games (probably between 2-5K+)
• Easier access for those students who have to use the airport ( Greyhound costs about $35 from the Monroe Bus Station and the Spirit Gas Station on the East side of Ruston...which means a 30 minute walk to campus if you don't know someone or don't have money for a taxi...which can be very grueling with luggage)
• Easier access for students to find buses home (the Monroe and Shreveport Bus Stations would give them vastly more options than the Ruston one... and that one is a WALK)
• Easier access for potential students to visit tech, especially those who cannot drive and/don't have a vehicle
• Help the environment by reducing the number of vehicles traveling between Shreveport, Monroe, and Ruston (get funding/grants to startup from the Federal Government by providing Green alternative, especially in light of Obama's new green agreement with China)
• More of a reason for students to Stay in North Louisiana versus driving home to Texas/South Louisiana
• Make Ruston a more attractive location for it's alumni to stay in, which would increase Tech Home Game attendance, and potentially increase investment in the School
• Increase the positive interactions between Tech, LSUS/LSUHSC, ULM, Ruston, Shreveport, and Monroe
• Facilitate Enhanced Research between the Universities, especially Tech and LSUHSC
• Provide a permanent link between Tech's two campuses

For the city of Ruston:

• Increase the number of people stopping/spending money in Ruston
• Make Ruston a more attractive location
• Allow Ruston to promote it's Green alternative bus line

​Similar results for the cities of Shreveport and Monroe, and also for LSUS/LSUHSC and ULM.

I was thinking of submitting this proposal to President Guice... Do y'all have any comments, or suggestions of things to add?

[dawg80]

Would have to be subsidized to stay in business, like AMTRAK. Not enough demand to make this a viable enterprise.

However, something that MIGHT work is a party bus on special occasions. Like a Tech football game and BIG home hoops' games. Of course, this would work best if it were Tech, the Alumni Assoc or the Athletic Dept, or some combo effort and it was properly marketed. Oh oh....marketing? Never mind.

[Blue Dawg]

Spoken like an engineer!

""You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretsky" - Michael Scott.

[Dawgpix]

Hello y'all, I'm a 2013 engineering grad. As an out-of-state student, I always had trouble getting to Ruston from the Monroe/Shreveport Airports. I would either have to rent-a-car, take a $60+ taxi, or get a friend to pick me up from Ruston (I didn't think about the greyhound service). Further, as I'm sure many of you are well aware, Ruston doesn't have much more to offer for entertainment than Tech Sports (when going on), a few amenities, LOTS of churches, and Mother Nature. In fact, it was for this reason that most students would go home on the weekends, especially after football season. If more students had regular access to the larger amenities of Monroe/Shreveport on a regular basis, where they could take short day trips between these cities, I believe that Tech could have more people around.

Therefore, what do you think if Tech, possibly partnering with the city of Ruston, city of Shreveport, city of Monroe, LSUS, and ULM, started a regular bus line that visits the cities 2-4 times a day, stopping at

• ULM,
• Monroe Airport,
• Monroe Bus Station,
• Monroe Mall,
• West Monroe,
• Ruston Wall Mart (or other northside locale),
• Tech's Ruston Campus (maybe near the football stadium and/or by admissions),
• Tech's Bossier Campus
• Shreveport city center
• Shreveport Boardwalk,
• Shreveport Bus Station
• Shreveport Airport
• LSUS/LSUHSC

Maybe 3 permanent stops for the buses would be on Tech Campus, Monroe Bus Station, and Shreveport Bus Station. Regular stops at those locations would be 8AM, 12PM, 4PM, and 8PM, or some other times. Charge from Monroe to Tech would be $10 for students (ULM, LSUS/LSUHSC, and Tech, and below university only), $15 for non-students. Cost from Shreveport to Tech would be $15-20 for students, and $20-30 for non students. Cost from Monroe to Shreveport would be $25-30 for students, and $35-45.

As for benefits for Tech, I have compiled this list:

• More people can easily attend Tech Home Games (probably between 2-5K+)
• Easier access for those students who have to use the airport ( Greyhound costs about $35 from the Monroe Bus Station and the Spirit Gas Station on the East side of Ruston...which means a 30 minute walk to campus if you don't know someone or don't have money for a taxi...which can be very grueling with luggage)
• Easier access for students to find buses home (the Monroe and Shreveport Bus Stations would give them vastly more options than the Ruston one... and that one is a WALK)
• Easier access for potential students to visit tech, especially those who cannot drive and/don't have a vehicle
• Help the environment by reducing the number of vehicles traveling between Shreveport, Monroe, and Ruston (get funding/grants to startup from the Federal Government by providing Green alternative, especially in light of Obama's new green agreement with China)
• More of a reason for students to Stay in North Louisiana versus driving home to Texas/South Louisiana
• Make Ruston a more attractive location for it's alumni to stay in, which would increase Tech Home Game attendance, and potentially increase investment in the School
• Increase the positive interactions between Tech, LSUS/LSUHSC, ULM, Ruston, Shreveport, and Monroe
• Facilitate Enhanced Research between the Universities, especially Tech and LSUHSC
• Provide a permanent link between Tech's two campuses

For the city of Ruston:

• Increase the number of people stopping/spending money in Ruston
• Make Ruston a more attractive location
• Allow Ruston to promote it's Green alternative bus line

​Similar results for the cities of Shreveport and Monroe, and also for LSUS/LSUHSC and ULM.

I was thinking of submitting this proposal to President Guice... Do y'all have any comments, or suggestions of things to add?

If you're thinking subsidized one added location would enhance that chance for funds ;-) . . .. . where the trains don't stop, as Howard Cosell said of the community 4 miles to the west of Tech.

[Exes&Ohs]

If the attendance was increased by even 2,000, the lowest number you show, then one would assume they rode the buses in thus would need about 40 with motors running on standby outside the gates at game end in order to take them home. Do you think so?

[Dawgpix]

Currently.....

04:55 AM Mon, 11/17 06:35 AM Mon, 11/17 1H, 40M 0 $24.00 N/A $29.50 $34.50 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 04:55 AM GLI 1553 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 06:35 AM (END) GLI Yes 1553

09:20 AM Mon, 11/17 11:10 AM Mon, 11/17 1H, 50M 0 $24.00 N/A $29.50 $34.50 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 09:20 AM GLI 1547 RUSTON, LA 10:00 AM 10:00 AM GLI 1547 MINDEN, LA 10:35 AM 10:35 AM GLI 1547 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 11:10 AM (END) GLI Yes 1547

04:15 PM Mon, 11/17 06:05 PM Mon, 11/17 1H, 50M 0 $28.00 N/A $31.00 $37.00 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 04:15 PM GLI 1523 RUSTON, LA 04:55 PM 04:55 PM GLI 1523 MINDEN, LA 05:30 PM 05:30 PM GLI 1523 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 06:05 PM (END) GLI Yes 1523

09:50 PM Mon, 11/17 11:45 PM Mon, 11/17 1H, 55M 0 $25.50 N/A $31.00 $37.00 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 09:50 PM GLI 1545 RUSTON, LA 10:30 PM 10:30 PM GLI 1545 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 11:45 PM (END) GLI Yes 1545

[Woof!]

When my dad was an engineering student at Tech, he took the train from Shreveport to Ruston.

[Champ967]

When my dad was an engineering student at Tech, he took the train from Shreveport to Ruston.

Did they have to clear dinosaurs off the tracks?

[Woof!]

Did they have to clear dinosaurs off the tracks?

My dad is still alive, but is was a long time ago.

[BearDawg137]

Currently.....

04:55 AM Mon, 11/17 06:35 AM Mon, 11/17 1H, 40M 0 $24.00 N/A $29.50 $34.50 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 04:55 AM GLI 1553 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 06:35 AM (END) GLI Yes 1553

09:20 AM Mon, 11/17 11:10 AM Mon, 11/17 1H, 50M 0 $24.00 N/A $29.50 $34.50 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 09:20 AM GLI 1547 RUSTON, LA 10:00 AM 10:00 AM GLI 1547 MINDEN, LA 10:35 AM 10:35 AM GLI 1547 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 11:10 AM (END) GLI Yes 1547

04:15 PM Mon, 11/17 06:05 PM Mon, 11/17 1H, 50M 0 $28.00 N/A $31.00 $37.00 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 04:15 PM GLI 1523 RUSTON, LA 04:55 PM 04:55 PM GLI 1523 MINDEN, LA 05:30 PM 05:30 PM GLI 1523 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 06:05 PM (END) GLI Yes 1523

09:50 PM Mon, 11/17 11:45 PM Mon, 11/17 1H, 55M 0 $25.50 N/A $31.00 $37.00 + SCHEDULE DETAILS- HIDE DETAILS Location Arrives Departs Layover Carrier Meals/Rest Stop Schedule (START) - MONROE, LA 09:50 PM GLI 1545 RUSTON, LA 10:30 PM 10:30 PM GLI 1545 (END) - SHREVEPORT, LA 11:45 PM (END) GLI Yes 1545

I see what you are saying, but it is still a difficult trip from the airports to the bus stations in monroe/shreveport, AND it is a very difficult trip from the Spirit Gas Station to Tech's Campus. The greyhound stop should at least be placed closer to Tech, maybe even to exit 86 instead of 84... I do like the suggestion of a Dallas to Shreveport-Ruston Bus...and maybe we could even get Grambling State and the casinos involved with this thing to increase our chances of suitable funding