MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew LaPlant
561-297-3022, alaplant@fau.edu

FAU Students Study the South Florida Bus System

BOCA RATON, FL (June 28, 2005) - With gas prices climbing to an all-time high, a Florida Atlantic University professor assigned civil engineering students an assignment to study the public bus system as a viable option to driving cars.

Dr. Sheila Sarkar, assistant professor in civil engineering and coordinator of the Urban and Regional Planning Transportation Collaborative, had the students' ride bus transit in South Florida and give recommendations on how to improve the system if needed. Students rode transit buses during peak and non-peak hours. For additional credit, they were given the option to take the bus on the weekends.

Most of the students thought improvements were needed to get them out of their cars. Many of the recommendations included upgrading the conditions of the buses and bus stops. Students stated shelter would be a key upgrade so people wouldn't have to wait in the heat or rain of South Florida. Another key addition would be a bus schedule at stops, so a rider would know when the next bus is coming and what route it takes. There also seemed to be the need for bus drivers to announce what stop they are coming to, as many students witnessed people confused and scrambling to get off at the correct stops.

The Broward County Transit website states the county is currently going through transit improvements. One of the objectives is to install Intelligent Transportation Systems and other passenger infrastructure at bus stops, including hardstands, shelter, lighting, seating, bus schedules and route connectivity maps.

"The opportunity to correlate "theory and practice" is very important," said Sarkar. "It's unfortunate the students don't see bus transit as an option to save gas at this time, but their recommendations show it could be an option in the future."

For more information on this study, contact Dr. Sarkar at 561-306-9654 or ssarkar@fau.edu.

-FAU-