The University of Georgia Transportation and Parking Services received a $7.2 million grant last month from the Federal Transit Administration to purchase up to eight more buses to add to its current fleet of 90 buses.

Despite this, the university still faces bus driver shortages and overcrowded buses.

The UGA bus system completes approximately 6 million trips per year.

On Sept. 28, an article on the official university news site stated that the $7.2 million grant will reduce the carbon footprint, in efforts to achieve a more sustainable campus. Research has shown that electric buses produce less emissions than gas-run buses.     

The university’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint from its buses traces back to 2020 when Transportation and Parking Services and the Student Government Association worked together to shorten campus routes. The shortening of these routes to about 240 miles per day for buses overall reduced the emission of carbon dioxide from 14.6 metric tons per day to 9.1 metric tons per day.

With a fleet that includes over 30 electric and 60 diesel buses, the University of Georgia has one of the largest bus systems in the state, second only to the MARTA system in Atlanta.

UGA buses on average carry approximately 33,716 riders per day.

The University of Georgia just welcomed its two largest classes in history, with each consisting of over 6,200 students. With just over 40,000 students enrolled, the issue of overcrowded buses has become more prominent than ever.

Crowded buses have sparked complaints, so students around campus were asked to comment on the university’s bus system on Nov. 8.

 

Evie Barnes, Luke Mrozek, Eli Hardegree, Alanna Jacob are students in Reporting I at the University of Georgia.