Texas Tech

Bus Location System

Lauren Behrmann, Sydney Carroll, Quinton White, and Jake Wischkaemper

TTU Student Government Association

Student Union Room 302
Box 42032
Lubbock, TX 79409-2032
Dear Student Government Association,
Thank you in advance for considering our proposal in regards to
upgrading the Texas Tech bus system. As students who ride the bus very
frequently, we have experience with the current system and we believe
there are potential changes that can greatly benefit all riders and Texas
Tech University as a whole. Although the current buses and routes work
perfectly fine, there is room for improvement under efficiency and time
management. The following proposal will describe the potential
adjustments to the current system, including the following:

The current situation of the bus system

The project plan and implementing any changes
The qualifications of the team members
The costs and benefits this proposed project would bring to Texas
Tech University

Again, we want to thank you for your time and reviewing our
adjustments. We look forward to hearing what you think. If there are any
questions please feel free to contact our team at 972-999-1000 or
ttubuslocation@yahoo.com
Sincerely,
Lauren Behrmann
Sydney Carroll
Jakob Wischkaemper
Quinton White

Current Situation

The Texas Tech bus system currently transports on and off

campus students to several locations throughout the university.
Ideally, buses run on routes that stop every six minutes and
route maps are placed at the designated stop locations.
However, this system is not perfect and there is opportunity for
improvement regarding the efficiency and time management
practices.

The designated route maps are posted on stops but sometimes are worn and damaged from
weather

Our goal is to improve the current situation by informing

students in order to help them make more efficient decisions.
Students have run into issues with being late because of not
knowing the location of buses, debating whether to walk or wait
for the bus, and weather issues waiting for buses that dont
arrive. Weve surveyed 100 students about their current
situation with regards to the on campus bus system.

A survey of 100 students and how often they ride the buses on campus (Survey Monkey)

As you can see, many students ride the bus on all different
schedules. The buses serve a very important role in the lives of
students. Whether it is trying to get to class or traveling to an
important meeting, students have places that they need to be in
a timely fashion. Sometimes two or three buses on the same
route will follow each other. That can increase the wait time at
one stop to nearly 20 minutes. As presented earlier, buses are
supposed to stop at pre-designated stops every six minutes.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

89% of students answered yes, they were late to something because of the buses unknown location.
(Survey Monkey)

Clearly, there is a hiccup somewhere in the system.

Problems like this should not be occurring, especially when
students already have to pay a mandatory transportation fee of
$52.00 on their tuition, regardless of if they use the bus or not.
Additionally, off-campus students must pay for a parking pass.
Where is this money going if not providing an efficient ride?
When students are late because of a situation out of their
control, but in control of bus driver, there can be many serious
consequences.

Negative Consequences
Education
o Students might be late to class and miss out on
important instruction
o Late for exams or presentations
o Poorer grade statistics for the university
o Late arrival can disrupt the class and instructor
Money
o Late to on campus jobs
o Late to interviews, costing the interviewer time
and money
Obviously, this current situation needs improvement.

Project Plan

Although our current bus system is delivering students to

their classes, the system can be unpredictable. It is in this area
that we see room for improvement which will enable students to
track buses in real-time and thus, be able to make informed
decisions on how to best get to their destinations. Our project
plan will include a description of the proposed technology, how
to most effectively implement the new system, as well as the
impact it will have on our campus.

Transloc Software
Transloc offers a way for public transportation passengers to
track the location of buses in real time. Transloc will install
GPS trackers in each bus on campus. Once the new network is
created, it will be added to the Transloc mobile application. In
addition to providing the user with the real-time location of the
buses, the app will calculate the estimated time of arrival for
each bus at every stop (Transloc).

Implementation
Before the system could be implemented, it would require
approval from the Student Government Association. The
actual process of implementation is quick and simple:
SGA provides Transloc the identities of each of the buses that
run the campus routes
SGA provides a map of all the routes
Transloc creates a network specific to the routes
The network is added to the mobile application
SGA will utilize all available methods to advertise the
implementation of the new system, including tech announce
and social media
Users can download the application to their mobile devices for a
proposed cost of $0.99 to aid in the payment of the system.

Impact of Implementation
Once the system is in place, there will be a multitude of
benefits, all of which will result in a general increase in
satisfaction with the Texas Tech transportation system. The
projected benefits are as follow:
Students will know the exact location of each bus on their
route.
Students will have an estimated time of arrival for the bus
they are waiting on.
With this information, students will be able to make the
appropriate decision
Bus drivers will be able to correct timing should they deviate
from their scheduled stop times.
Human error will become a less prominent cause for
breakdowns in the system
Fewer students will be late to class because of confusion
pertaining to transportation.
Saving money for the university and individual student

Qualifications
Jake Wischkaemper

I am a senior in my 4th year at Texas Tech. In my time

here, I have been a regular passenger on the buses. On more
than one occasion, I have been late to class which affected my
grade in substantial ways. The most prominent example is the
instance in which I chose to ride the bus to one of my final
exams. I assumed that the bus was running on time, which
would have left me 10 minutes to get to my final on-time.
However, the bus was running 15 minutes late, which caused
me to be late to my final. Because of the professors policy, I
was not allowed to take the exam. Missing my final exam
dropped my grade from an A to a C in the class. This is an
extreme example, however it is not isolated. Although I am
grateful for the bus system, I see room for drastic improvements.
I believe implementing the Transloc system would be a fantastic
start.

Sydney Carroll
I am a junior here at Texas Tech University, so I have seen
personally how the bus system works. If we could get this app
for the buses, I know for a fact that I would be using it every
day. Last fall during midterm season, I was waiting for the bus
at my apartment complex. I waited for 30 minutes before a bus
came. Since the bus was late, I was late to my midterm exam. If
I would have known that the buses were running late, I could
have walked to campus and arrived a lot sooner. I personally
dislike how the bus system works currently, so I would love to
see this proposal go through.

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Quinton White
I am also currently a junior here at this University; and the
way the bus system works could use some more help. Installing
a GPS into the buses would bring great joy to the students who
all are late or waiting at the bus stop too long. There are periods
of times where students are waiting at a stop for over 20
minutes and the buses still have not made an appearance. Many
of times I have seen two buses riding close together and going to
the exact same spot. If only the drivers got their times and
routes together things would probably be easier. Installing a
GPS would also let us know where the bus exactly is, and
instead of waiting in the rain, snow, or freezing cold, we could
be waiting in our car until the bus came. Honestly installing this
GPS system would relieve so much stress on the students who
attend this University. Hopefully this proposal goes through and
we are better off as a student body.

Lauren Behrmann
I am a constant participant in the bus system here at Texas
Tech. I take the bus, on average, three times a day and
sometimes more. I ride in the morning from the parking lot, to
another class, and finally back to my car at commuter west. I
have experienced several situations regarding the bus system
that has left me overwhelmingly frustrated. I personally have
been late for a test. After waiting 15 minutes for a bus, I made
the choice to walk 25 minutes to get to the room across campus
and never saw a bus enroute. Our campus is one of the largest
in the nation and a GPS to track the buses could have saved me
15 valuable minutes to get to my test in time.

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Cost and Benefit Analysis

Immediate
Through the implementation of this proposal, several
benefits may be seen, both in the short term and in the long
term. Regarding the bus system, the use of an app to help track
the buses will make the students happier and much more
efficient bus system. Once this proposal is put in motion, the
app will allow students to track the buses and to tell if they are
running late. Another benefit, for the newer students, is that you
can see all the bus routes and where they go. In the past, buses
have been known to run late, which in turn makes the students
late to class. If the students know a bus is running late, by
looking on the app, they can decide whether to walk or wait for
the bus, and not risk being late to class. Some students are also
hesitant to ride the bus because they are unsure of the bus routes
and which bus will take them to the right place. With this new
system, students will never have to question themselves about
the buses.

Long term
In the long run, this app will make riding the buses so
much easier and an overall more efficient bus system.
According to METRO, the system at LSU received slightly
more than 5,000 hits in its opening and climbed to more than
66,000 in three months. If we could get that kind of reaction,
then the bus system will become more popular among students.

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Costs
In order for Texas Tech to obtain the tools needed for this
app, the university would need to pay around $33,000 for
Transloc to install the necessary equipment for this app to work
(Jones). Additionally, the cost per month would be $1,425 to
run the entire system. That number depends on how many
buses need a GPS system and how many routes are going to be
incorporated in the app. 60% of the students who took the
survey said that they would be willing to pay $0.99 for the app.
Although it is on the pricy side, this app could really change
how people view the bus system.

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Concluding Remarks
In conclusion, this new GPS system would be perfect for
our University, due to the fact that we have one of the largest
campuses in the nation. Adding Transloc technology to Texas
Tech University is not costly at all, stated earlier at only
$33,000. The main reasoning behind this is to have full access
on where the buses are at all times, and to let you know if you
either have to walk to class, or you can wait at the bus stop. It
might be a challenge to get this new system up and running but
if there is enough support things can take a positive turn for
students and the university as a whole.
We would like to thank Transloc for taking the time out to
give us important information; also we would like to thank
everyone who has taken the survey. For the future this would be
a credible source to rely on when you are on campus or even
off. In all we would like to thank everyone who has helped us to
this point, hopefully this information we have put forth is
beneficial to you.

Appendix
Initial Cost
Hardware


Installation
Total Initial Cost

Recurring Costs

Total Monthly Cost

$2,000.00/bus
15 buses
$30,000.00
$3,000.00
$33,000.00

$95.00/bus/month
15 buses
$1,425.00

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Lauren Behrmann
Education

lauren.e.behrmann@gmail.com (972)-983-7553
3818 62nd DR Lubbock, TX 79413

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
! Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science
! Concentration in Horticulture and Turfgrass Science
! Minor in General Business Administration
! GPA: 3.95
! Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2016

Fall 2013 - Present

Work Experience
Student Assistant
Lubbock, Texas
September 2014- Present
! Assist Dr. Cynthia McKenney in wildflower research under Texas Superstar and Proven
Winners brand where we trial for key traits such as water conservation, heat and cold
tolerance, and ease of care.
Holland Gardens
Lubbock, Texas
April 2014- August 2014
! Applied my knowledge of Horticulture in the aiding and directing of customers in specific
departments of the nursery where I was able to then educate consumers on outstanding planting
techniques and the proper managing of resources for the Lubbock area.

Honors
Order of Omega Honor Society
Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
Presidential Scholarship Recipient
Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
Presidents List
Presidents List
Deans List

September 2014- Present

January 2014- Present
August 2013- Present
January 2014-Present
Fall 2014
Spring 2014
Fall 2013

Involvement
Horticulture Society of Texas Tech- Secretary

August 2014-Present

! Society that provides opportunities of growth and development in Plant and Soil
Science by community involvement, leadership, and learning through activities such as
the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum, Quaker Farm Vegetable Patch, East Lubbock
Development Project, and Buckner My Fathers House.

Kappa Alpha Theta

August 2013- Present

! Fraternity that holds scholarship, sisterhood, and service to the highest aim through
participation of volunteer work such as Lions Club Pancake Festival, Safe Haven
Animal Shelter, Theta Corral, and CASA.

Alpha Zeta Agricultural Fraternity

September 2014-Present

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Sydney Carroll
24314 Middle Fork ! San Antonio, Texas 78258
Phone: 210-573-4899 ! E-Mail: sydney.carroll@ttu.edu
Education
Texas Tech University
August 2012- Present
Exercise Sports Science Major with Psychology Minor
Applying to Master of Occupational Therapy program in the fall of 2015.
San Antonio Christian High School August 2008 May 2012
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Distinguished Achievement Program
Top 25% in class
National Honors Society

Experience
Simply Charmed Boutique August 2014 - December 2014

Sales associate responsible for assisting customers in their selection and purchasing of
boutique items
Prepared inventory for sale and display
Assisted in the setup and breakdown at trade show event

LifeTime Fitness July 2010 August 2013

Supervised and entertained large groups of children

Activities
Kappa Delta Sorority Member
Recruitment Leader
Chairperson for International Womens Friendship Month
Occupation Therapist Shadow/Volunteer
Circle of Care Pediatric Home Health Care
Trust Point Hospital -- in patient rehabilitation center
Study Abroad Program at Texas Tech University, Seville, Spain (May-June 2014)
Spent fix weeks in an intensive Spanish class and learned about the culture
Health Occupations for Students of America organization
Participated in meetings four times a semester
Teed Off at Cancer Volunteer Coordinator
Assisted in organizing golf and gala events to raise money for Childrens Hospital of San
Antonio cancer ward
Volunteer coordinator responsible for ensuring volunteer coverage at events
Accumulated over 200 hours of community service over the years

Skills

Proficient with Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and First Aid certified

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Quinton White Jr.

4001 48th Lubbock, Tx 7941

Phone: (979)-574-8530 E-Mail: qlwjr.white@ttu.edu

Summary
Experienced in training and leading others, comfortable in both collaborative and
autonomous environments
Familiar with development and relationship building with various positions
Excellent communication skills and proficiency in use of Microsoft word.

Education
College of Human Sciences- Texas Tech University 2012-Present
Bachelors of Human Development and Family Studies
Cumulative GPA: 3.0
Minor in sociology

Experience
Shlotskys

2009-2012

Managed the register

Developed customer service skills and upselling techniques
Quickly accumulated to working in a fast-paced environment with high customer traffic
Started a Mentoring Program








2009-Present
Mentored young children who may have needed someone to look up to
Provided assistance in any situation and gave advice on life skills

Texas Tech Football 2012-Pressent

Developed team working skills working with 85 teammates on and off the field
Developed discipline
Developed time management skills while balancing an average of 20 hours a week of
football activities with 15 hours of class

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Works Cited
Behrmann, Lauren. Carroll, Sydney. "New Bus Technology Proposal."
Survey. Survey Monkey. 1 Apr. 2015. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Jones, Jimmy. Transloc. Email interview by Jake Wischkaemper. 9 Apr.
2015.
Transloc Real Time. Transloc. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
http://transloc.com/real-time-passenger-information/
Web Extra: LSU unveils iPhone bus tracking app for on-demand
service Metro. 11 Oct. 2010. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.