Ride Acadiana celebrates in advance of Monday’s launch
By Steve Bandy
Crowley Post-Signal
CROWLEY — “Connectivity” was the general theme for ribbon-cutting ceremonies Thursday morning at City Hall here marking the start of the Ride Acadiana bus transit program.
Though the first bus from Crowley to Lafayette does not leave until Monday morning, dignitaries from Acadia and Lafayette parishes gathered at City Hall Thursday morning to kick off the pilot program.
Funded by a Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Acadiana Planning Commission, the aim of the pilot program is to connect Acadiana.
Monique Boulet, chief executive officer of the Acadiana Planning Commission, said a number of surrounding parishes are watching this pilot program closely, hoping that it will expand to include other areas.
Boulet explained why Acadia parish was chosen as the pilot during a brief program inside city hall prior to the ribbon-cutting.
“It was sheer mapping prospective,” she said. “There are a number of towns along the route — Highway 90 — between here and Lafayette.”
The buses will make eight stops at various points around Crowley, three in Rayne, one each in Duson and Scott, and seven in Lafayette, ending at the Rosa Parks Transportation Center, where easy connections with Lafayette Transit System will be available.
“The mayors of each of the communities along the route are wholeheartedly supporting this project,” Boulet added.
APC has contracted with LTS for the buses.
Crowley Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Premeaux, speaking on behalf of mayor Greg Jones, thanked APC for affording Crowley the opportunity to participate in the program.
Reading a statement from Jones, Premeaux said the concept of regionalization is growing across the state and “Ride Acadiana fits perfectly into that plan of regionalization.”
Bruce Conques, Lafayette City/Parish Council member, noted that LPC had only recently thrown its support behind the project but added that, as a personal “advocate for public transportation, I hope this is the beginning of something big.”
Suzette Leonards represented Rayne Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux at the event and said the city “is very excited” with the transit program.
“I’ve worked for the city of Rayne in one capacity or another for 20 years and one of the biggest needs I’ve seen there is the need for public transportation,” she said.
Andre Perez, director of primary partnerships and special programs for South Louisiana Community College, lauded the program as a huge benefit for students.
“SLCC has already purchased over $15,000 in ride passes for its students,” he added.
Gretchen Vanicor, director of sustainability at UL Lafayette, also noted that the system will be a benefit for students and said she is looking forward to possible expansion of the program into other parishes.
Each bus can seat up to 19 passengers comfortably and each is handicap accessible. All seats have seat belts and the buses are equipped with Wifi.
“That’s a great selling point for students,” noted Boulet. “Students can use their computers or mobile devises from the time they board the bus to the time they depart.
Following the ribbon-cutting and tours of the vehicle in Crowley, the bus departed for similar celebrator stops in Rayne, Duson, Scott and Lafayette.
The schedule has morning run times from 5:30 a.m. until noon, and afternoon/evening run times from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m.Bus fares are $5 for a two-ride card, and $20 for a 12-ride card, with discounts for people 65 years and over, and those disabled or on Medicare.
Children 5 and younger ride free.
Fares may be paid on-board the bus with exact change, or passes may be purchased in advance at each of the city halls in Crowley, Rayne, Duson and Scott, and at Lafayette’s Rosa Parks Transportation Center.
Real-time tracking of the buses will be made available through an app that can be downloaded onto mobile devices in the coming days.
For complete details, visit RideAcadiana.com.
Crowley stops will include:
— Odd Fellows Road at Tower Road, near Walmart;
— Odd Fellows Road at Cherokee Drive, at Stine Home and Yard (Park & Ride);
— North Parkerson at Northern Avenue;
— North Parkerson at East Sixth Street;
— North Parkerson at First Street, Enterprise Center (Park & Ride);
— South Eastern Avenue (La. 13) at East Elm Street, Lagrange Grocery (Park & Ride);
— North Parkerson at East First Street, Bus Depot; and
— East Northern Avenue at U.S. 90, Acadia General Hospital.
Rayne stops will be:
— Fourth Street at West Anding Street, Southside Community Center (Park & Ride);
— American Legion Drive at Second Street, American Legion (street parking here is designated as Park & Ride); and
— East Texas Avenue (U.S. 90) at North Arenas Street, Post Office.
In Duson, the buses will stop at Toby Mouton Road at North A Street (Town Hall). This is a designated Park & Ride location.
One stop also is scheduled in Scott, at Scott Market at 917 Cayret St., a designated Park & Ride location.
Lafayette stops will include:
— Luke Street at Devalcourt Street, SLCC parking lot B;
— Bertrand Street at Congress Street, University Hospital & Clinics;
— Johnston Street at College Road; near Walgreens and Albertsons (this is a transfer stop, meaning riders can transfer into the Lafayette Transit System for access to other routes in the city);
— East St. Mary Boulevard at Hebrard Boulevard, UL Dupre Library;
— Coolidge Boulevard at Hospital Drive, Lafayette General Medical Center; and
— Rosa Parks Transportation Center This is a transfer stop.
where riders can transfer into the Lafayette Transit System for access to other routes in the city).
One of the new Ride Acadiana buses was on hand for ribbon-cutting ceremonies Thursday morning at Crowley City Hall to kick-off the pilot program connecting Crowley, Rayne, Duson, Scott and Lafayette. (Photo by Steve Bandy/Crowley Post-Siginal)
The interior of one of the buses to be used for the Ride Acadiana bus transit system that begins Monday. (Photo by Steve Bandy/Crowley Post-Siginal)