Alcorn State University commuters may soon have a daily link to Vicksburg, NRoute’s director told her management board Wednesday.

Evelyn Bumpers said she has been working with administrators of the university’s main campus at Lorman, 40 miles south of the city, for more than a year.  “They’re trying to work out the logistics to get this up and running,” Bumpers said. “We already have two buses sitting aside waiting to take up this route. Our next step is to get a memorandum of understanding written and signed and move forward from there.”

Bumpers said runs could begin as early as October and commuters would be charged $75 per month. NRoute would be paid $150 per student, with matching contributions from a grant the university has secured.

She said a survey has identified 10 students in Vicksburg who would use the service, and added NRoute would break even with that number. Commuters would be picked up at a designated park and ride location at 7 a.m. daily, and would be picked up on campus at 5 p.m., Bumpers said.

Alcorn, with about 3,000 students, has a rural campus with no off-campus housing nearby. Many students, faculty and staff commute from Vicksburg or Natchez daily.

Separately, a partnership with Bolivar County is also moving forward. NRoute would administer the service, accepting calls and dispatching rides, while Bolivar County would use its own buses. Trips would cost riders a flat rate $8 fee each way, with Bolivar County getting $6 of each fare and NRoute $2. Bumpers said the service would not cost NRoute any additional funds.

“We’re looking to start in October,” she said.

Initially operated as a department of the City of Vicksburg, NRoute was spun off as an independent entity in February 2007 and the transportation commission was formed in August 2007. NRoute buses operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except holidays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Two new members of the five-member transportation commission — Don Brown and Alvin Taylor — sat in on their first meeting Wednesday. Other commissioners present were chairman John Wayne Jabour and Mark Buys. Bumpers and commission attorney Landy Teller were also present, while Commissioner Diane Gawronski was absent.

In other action, the commission:

• Approved a contract with Monroe, La.-based Monroe Outdoor, a private company tapped to sell advertising on bus benches. Monroe Outdoor will provide 20 benches throughout the city and will pay a 20 percent commission to NRoute on ad sales beginning in October.

• Authorized Teller to write a letter to the Federal Transportation Administration seeking clarification on new regulations for certified charter operations.

In closed session, the commission:

• Discussed one personnel matter and one real estate matter.

The commission is to meet again at 5 p.m. Sept. 23 at the NRoute administrative office, 2501 Halls Ferry Road.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com