A new graduating class of Regional Transit Service bus drivers can now be added to the fleet to better serve a record number of passengers.
Of the 35 candidates who had a possible chance of becoming part of Gainesville's public-transportation system, 10 recently found themselves graduating and ready to operate one of the 105 buses of the fleet.
Chip Skinner, RTS marketing and communications supervisor, said the addition of the 10 drivers would help with the recent shortages.
"We were down 18 drivers during the summer," Skinner said.
With the commencement of the busy fall semester, the addition of the new drivers couldn't come at a better time.
"We had 61,233 passengers ride the system on the first Monday of classes," Skinner said. "Approximately 75 percent of those were UF students."
In addition to new drivers, six new bus routes - 27, 28, 46, 62, Later Gator D and Later Gator F - were also added to help with transporting students.
Skinner said while UF students, through petition, requested the new Later Gator bus routes, the help of a new Santa Fe Transportation Fee Bill partially funded two of the other routes, 27 and 62. The Florida Department of Transportation funded the rest.
"Right governor at the right time," Skinner said. "The new bill has also allowed Santa Fe students to ride the bus system free of charge just like UF students."
The UF partnership with RTS has made public transportation in Gainesville very efficient, Skinner said. He added that instead of building parking garages with the federal funds allotted to the UF Transportation Fee Committee, they are invested into RTS in accordance to the number of students and credit hours taken at the school.
Socrates Janvier, a junior at UF and frequent rider, said it was the most efficient mode of transportation he's ever used.
"It gets packed, and sometimes you have to stand around during peak times of the day, but it's free and the bus drivers are always friendly," Janvier said. "During some parts of the day, the bus ride feels like it's summer again."
The RTS is still short eight drivers, according to Skinner, and is using its Facebook page to attract possible future graduates. To be considered, one must have a clean driving record within the last five years and be able to pass a series of tests.
"We even train those who qualify to get a commercial driver's license," Skinner said.
Future aspirations for RTS include the construction of a new "green" silver-LEED-certified maintenance facility and the expansion to 240 buses. City commissioners have also discussed the thought of a streetcar that would run from downtown to campus.
"It's a pie in the sky idea," Skinner said.
