Angelo State University Launching ‘Ram Tram’

Angelo State University hosteda ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ram Tram, a free weekend transportation route for ASU students, faculty and staff on Friday.

Ram Tram, a partnership of TRANSA Concho Valley Transit District, ASU President Brian J. May, the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce and the ASU Student Government Association (SGA), will provide transportation on city buses from 5:30 p.m. Fridays to 1:30 a.m. Saturdays and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays to 1:30 a.m. Sundays. Riders only have to show an ASU ID to board for free.

“It took a lot of the right people in the right places,” said SGA President Jared Goecker. “Dr. May moved mountains to get this done. It took a united Student Senate.”

The route, which will run every hour on the half hour, starts in front of the Plaza Verde and Concho Hall residence halls, then heads west to the Centennial Village residence hall. A third stop is at the intersection of South Johnson Street and Dena Drive and a fourth is at South Johnson and Knickerbocker.

The route will make stops at Southwest Plaza Shopping Center, Sunset Mall, the Academy and Best Buy parking lot and Walmart on Sherwood Way. Buses will then head east, stopping at Cinemark and HEB before stopping at several downtown intersections.

“Right now, we’re testing ridership,” Goecker said. “We have enough funding for a year. If we can show the numbers, we can keep the funding. We have a lot of international students on campus and a lot of freshmen and even sophomores who don’t have cars. It’s also really hot for students who have to walk everywhere.”

“We’re trying to increase the interaction between the university and the city,” he added. “This is a great way to get students who maybe haven’t ventured off campus to see more of the city and to get the city invested a little more in the university.”

For an online route map and hours of operation, go to www.angelo.edu/ramtram.

More information is available by contacting the Concho Valley Transit District at 325-947-8729 or go to www.cvtd.org.