Campus Transit

The majority of Bob Bourne’s 40+-year career was spent working for CyRide, a public transit operation that serves Iowa State University and the entire city of Ames , Ia. This experience has allowed him to become intimately familiar with the unique needs of campus and small city transit systems and what they need to operate most efficiently. Parking lot shuttles, intra campus connectors, and off campus city routes are necessary for a balanced, effective campus transit network.

An effective campus transit system meets the needs of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. When designed well, campus transit can meet university administration goals to reduce parking needs on campus, reduce infrastructure costs by allowing higher densities in the core campus, and enhance campus planning.

An effective campus transit system will enhance student life by providing a low-cost transportation system that meets a variety of student needs. A comprehensive transit system that operates from early morning to late in the evening, seven days a week, allows students to study, work, and socialize without the need to have an automobile at all times. Access to and from classes is most important, but a comprehensive transit system allows students access to work opportunities off campus, which can be extremely important to students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds. Student participation in the local City transit system can enhance transit services for all residents of the city when coordinated with a student system or integrated into one system.

Off campus transit routes that serve the local community are an important part of campus transit. Working with the local transit system will reduce overall auto traffic to campus.

Bob has a comprehensive understanding about how to develop a local transit system to meet campus needs. A City transit system benefits from a good campus transit market by increased ridership, which can result in increased state and federal funding. More importantly, high student ridership can require improved frequencies on routes, which benefit city residents by making the bus system more attractive to them.

Bob’s extensive experience in campus transit has allowed him to understand how to most effectively meet the needs of a large university administration’s goals, how to work collaboratively with students, and how to work within a City structure. He has been able to craft a system that meets all needs and balances the often fragile relationship between students, administrators, and city officials. This system is built on cooperative relationships that acknowledge and respect the common goals and needs of all entities involved. A variety of references from all three groups are available to attest to his skills at being sensitive to the needs of each group and helping them develop the strong relationships necessary to sustain quality transit service.