Students who use the Park & Geaux transportation system could soon spend less time waiting for buses and more time getting to class. The university plans to build a mobility hub designed to shorten shuttle loop times and improve students’ commute experiences.
LSU is building a Park & Geaux mobility hub on the west side of campus as a part of its long-term campus master and mobility plans. The plans aim to move parking away from the core parts of campus while major construction projects continue to expand.
The hub is expected to open this fall and will serve as a centralized waiting and dispatch space for riders. It is also designed to reduce shuttle turnaround times from 15-20 minutes to closer to 10.
“We have a large amount of parking on the west side of campus, near River Road and the levee, but it’s just not right next to where people want them to be,” said Kaylee Aulds, the interim director of Parking & Transportation Services. “Outside of Park & Geaux users, that area really wasn’t being utilized, and that’s part of why it made sense for the hub.”
The mobility hub is set to have all things students need to accommodate a short yet comfortable wait. Some of those features include air conditioning, bathrooms, TVs, charging stations and vending machines.
“We’re going from hard benches and an awning to a space with established seating, air conditioning and protection from the weather — whether it’s a cold day or a hot Louisiana day,” said Broty Stelly, a parking communications specialist.
Many students use the TransLoc app to track when the buses are coming to the stops. One new feature will include a live-tracking screen to see how and where buses are on campus. The hub will also have a front desk with connection to dispatch in case students have questions.
Another feature will be an additional drop-off and pick-up lane for students who take other forms of transportation such as Uber, Lyft and carpooling. The hub will also include a lost and found section to help reduce the hassle of tracking down buses if students accidentally leave any of their belongings.
This project is still in its earliest phases, and those involved in planning noted that construction is far from being completed.
“This will help bring the Park & Geaux stop up to the same level as other established areas on campus like the Student Union or Patrick F. Taylor Hall,” Stelly said.
Parking and Transportation said it’s being careful to ensure that the hub is compatible with student safety, deciding that the hub would only be closed between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. LSU police officers will also patrol the hub to ensure maximum security.
“There will be lighting, security around the building and an officer available during the evening,” Aulds said.
The LSU master plan for the future of campus aims to make it more pedestrian friendly.
“We’re trying to shift the mindset from parking next to your building to parking in the exterior lots and taking a bus in,” Aulds said. “This mobility hub is really the first phase of pushing that change forward.”
Though many students would say a parking garage would be the simplest way to fix things, Aulds explained that this is not feasible.
“To pave the entire lot, we estimated it could cost somewhere between $7 and 10 million, which just isn’t feasible in this phase,” she said. “We’re an auxiliary service, but we don’t get as much funding as people would assume.”
For students who rely on Park & Geaux to get to class, the mobility hub represents more than just a new building: it’s an attempt to make commuting faster, safer and more comfortable. With improved wait times and upgraded features, the hub may help reshape how students experience transportation at LSU as the university looks toward the future.
