KC looks to add shuttle service

With the rise of gas prices, Kilgore College is exploring the possibility of offering Longview-to-Kilgore shuttle services in the fall. And they're asking students and prospective students to help make the decision.

Mike Jenkins, vice president of student development said the idea originated from a KC math teacher, Nate Whitten. "Whitten said years ago there was a bus service from Longview to Kilgore for students," said Jenkins.

So from this idea the college is looking at serving the needs of the college community better by trying to provide better services, not just for Longview students, but for in-district students as well who need to take courses only offered at the Longview Campus, said Jenkins.

Jenkins said one such possibility could involve a partnership with the City of Longview Transportation Department or the East Texas Council of Governments to provide a bus service that would run from the Longview campus to the Kilgore campus on a daily basis. "Our plan is to offer this service for free and KC has put a survey on its website for students to fill out to try and determine one, how many would be interested in riding the bus and then what kind of times to set up for the routes," said Jenkins.

Jenkins said more than 70 percent of KC's student population lives in the Longview area. "With the steep increase in gas prices, we are concerned about losing students due to individual budgetary constraints," said Mike Jenkins, vice president of student development. "We are looking at ways to curb expenses for students to allow everyone the opportunity to a quality education."

Jenkins said KC hopes to have this bus route in operation by the fall semester. "We are still waiting on numbers from both Longview and ETCOG as to what the service would cost the college. Once all of the information is in, we can make a decision on costs, who can ride the bus and so forth," said Jenkins.

Chirs Craddock, public information officer for KC, said the school is asking all students, or prospective students, to fill out a 12-question survey to determine a possible schedule for such a service. The survey can be found by visiting the college's Web site at www.kilgore.edu.