Rain, sleet or snow, students will soon be able to wait for the Tiger Trails’ buses without being completely exposed to the weather.
Former Student Government President J Hudson’s initiative to erect covered bus stops around campus will finally be realized in two to three weeks, according to Gary Graham, director of Parking, Traffic and Transportation.
Graham said the project took so long to complete because plans had to be designed and approved before the two covered bus stops, which cost between $80,000 and $90,000 each, could begin construction.
Areas that were in need of a covered stop and that had the largest number of riders were identified in a collaborative effort between Graham’s office and SG.
The stops are being constructed in front of Lockett Hall and on the corner of South Stadium Drive and Tower Drive, outside of the Doran Agricultural Engineering Building.
Graham said the length of construction has caused the project to finish while classes are in session.
“It’s just like any other construction — you’ll have some inconveniences,” Graham said.
Graham said the weather has held up construction, and no work was able to be accomplished last week when storms halted the project.
However, Graham said there haven’t been complaints of traffic congestion or noise disruption during classes.
Graham also said workers are currently putting the finishing touches on the bus stops’ roofs and will begin work on landscaping around the stops and finishing the columns.
Students, on the other hand, are unsure of the necessity of more covered bus stops.
Pre-nursing sophomore Kristen Nelson said the bus stop outside of Lockett is unnecessary because there is already one across the street in front of the Journalism Building. She said she has to go out of her way to walk around the construction when she is trying to get to the bus stop.
History sophomore Keli Langley thinks the bus stops will add convenience during bad weather.
“You don’t want to be sitting out here when it rains,” she said.
Baton Rouge resident Patricia Cowart, who rides the Tiger Trails’ buses to campus, said construction causes traffic congestion.
“They stop in the middle of the street to drop you off,” Cowart said.
 
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]