Liberty University decides to end contract with GLTC

Liberty University plans to discontinue its contract with the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, opting instead to run its own fleet of buses on campus, LU officials announced Tuesday.

LU Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said GLTCs rising transit costs prompted the change, which will go into effect in August. Falwell estimated GLTCs hourly charges have increased 80 percent since 2008, including a 12 percent spike in the last two weeks.

We just cant live with those types of unexpected increases, Falwell said.

Prior to 2007, Liberty operated its own bus service for students who needed rides across campus or to select off-campus locations.

Liberty could no longer support the demands of its growing student body so, in 2007, it partnered with GLTC in a contract that cost the university roughly $1.14 million, or $52 per hour, said Richard Martin, LUs vice president for financial research and analysis.

Next year, the projected cost for a comparable amount of service came out to nearly $2 million, or about $93 per hour, Martin said.

Its gotten more expensive very quickly and also we do have some concerns over the sustainability of the service provided by GLTC, he said, citing the companys recent budget shortfalls.

Libertys strong financial position makes it feasible to buy a fleet of buses and build the accompanying infrastructure, Martin said. Students, who pay for the transit service through their tuition dollars, will save money in the long run.

Liberty is one of GLTCs biggest sources of funding and riders. The impact of Libertys departure will play out in coming months.

GLTC general manager Michael Carroll did not return phone calls Tuesday evening.

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Liberty University decides to end contract with GLTC