The Capital Area Transit System will not be able to provide game day shuttle service to Tiger Stadium after the Federal Transit Administration passed a new federal regulation.In an effort to help private charter companies’ competitive edge, the administration said public transit organizations, like CATS, cannot charge fees higher than the standard fare and cannot be subsidized by outside parties. “Public transit companies are charging higher rates and making profits,” an official from the administration said. “Profit charter operations wanted a bite of the apple.”The Federal Transit Administration has a policy that officials not be named. CATS charged passengers $10 round-trip for rides from the downtown area, Westmoreland and Farr Park to the stadium. The standard fare is $1.75. About 5,000 to 6,000 people used the service every football season, said John Denman, CEO of CATS.”That was a fee that was agreed upon by the users at that time,” Denman said. “That was to pay for the service, and if there wasn’t enough money some other people would pay the difference.”CATS received donations from the University and “a group of business men downtown” to provide the shuttles, Denman said.The administration official said the regulation is “targeted toward public agencies that charge a premium and make a profit.” But Denman said CATS was not making a profit from the service. “We lost some money providing the service,” Denman said. “It was more of a public service to generate exposure for CATS. It wasn’t a money making deal.”The FTA official said the order for the regulation came from Congress who “listened to the concerns of the private bus industry to tighten up regulation so they have more opportunity.”The regulation says CATS has the option to send notification e-mails to private bus companies, giving them the opportunity to show interest in providing shuttle service on gamedays. If none responded, CATS could continue the service at the same rates. CATS complied with the regulation and Hotard Charter Service and Louisiana Trailways responded to the e-mails stating they wanted the opportunity to provide service, Denman said. “That meant CATS has to stand down,” Denman said. “There’s nothing we can do.”Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation, said the University has received a proposal from the two charter services and is reviewing them. Hotard Charter Service will charge $15 round-trip for the service, and Louisiana Trailways will charge $10 round-trip, according to the proposals.Davis Rhorer, executive director of Downtown Development District, said Gayle Carnahan, president of the Downtown Business Association, is meeting with representatives from Hotard today and expects an announcement to be made afterward. Rhorer said if Hotard is selected, users of the service will notice an increase in quality relative to the increase in cost. “For people who [rely on this] to get to the game, they’ll consider it,” Rhorer said. “We tried to keep it at $10, but this is a nice type of vehicle with nicer amenities than the standard bus.”The FTA official said it will be the University’s responsibility to ensure the new service is equal to CATS.”If LSU wants to have buses on five-minute headways, they need to make sure that happens,” the official said. “It’s the sponsor’s responsibility, not the federal government’s.”Graham said there’s a possibility the new charter service off-campus will not be available Saturday.”We’ll still have on-campus shuttles from the handicapped zones and motor homes,” Graham said. “As far as shuttle service from downtown, I don’t know.”Rhorer said several people will be affected if there is no shuttle service this Saturday.”We’ve already gotten calls and e-mails asking about the status,” Rhorer said. “They’re concerned about how to get to the game. Hopefully, it will be resolved.”CATS has been providing the shuttle service to the University for “at least nine years,” Graham said. Graham said he has never received a complaint about the service. —-Contct Katie Kennedy at [email protected]