Lafayette city buses will soon help rural residents get to town and back more easily and more affordably than by driving. Lafayette Consolidated Government has two new buses and have voted YES to use them for a regional transport system.
A pilot route testing the concept of a regional commuter bus transit system, connecting Acadia Parish to Lafayette, is scheduled to launch August 20.
The plan is to help people get to work, school, and to access health care. The pilot route will have stops in Crowley, Rayne, Duson, Scott and Lafayette.
“Ride Acadiana will provide commuters between Acadia Parish and Lafayette with easy, affordable access to transportation, with the additional benefit of reducing the number of vehicles on the road,” said Monique Boulet, APC’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the success of this pilot route, our hope is to be able to offer similar service in other surrounding parishes.”
Acadia Parish residents will be able to access the Ride Acadiana bus from several locations. Bus stops are being finalized in Crowley, Rayne and Duson. There also will be a stop in Scott, as well as 3 stops in the city of Lafayette. The Lafayette stops will be at the campuses of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and South Louisiana Community College, and in the Oil Center near Lafayette General Medical Center.
The following fare structure has been established:
• Two-ride card – $5 / $2 for riders 65+, disabled and Medicare recipients
• 12-ride card – $20 / $10 for riders 65+, disabled and Medicare recipients
• Children under 5 years old ride free.
• Additionally, exact change will be accepted on the bus.
Ride passes will be available for purchase soon at locations in each municipality on the route.
The pilot route is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with support from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) is administering the program and has entered into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Lafayette Consolidated Government to operate the route through Lafayette Transit System.
A website with full program details will be available soon. In the meantime, information about Ride Acadiana is available on visit the Facebook, Instagram & Twitter Pages @RideAcadiana.
