"New company pledges better service, splashy new buses"

Twenty-five new blue and white buses bearing the UB logo will roll onto campus beginning May 16, following the signing of a new five-year bus contract with the transportation company Cognisa.

The new contract marks the end 25 years of service from Coach USA for UB Parking and Transportation Services.

"When a contract needs to be renewed there is an extensive bid process where we list all of the services we want included in the new contract," said Maria Wallace, interim director of Parking and Transportation Services. "Cognisa met all of our needs and it was the lowest bidder."

According to Wallace, a variety of reasons led to the new contract with Cognisa. Customer service was a large factor in the decision. Cognisa has delivered 99 percent on-time statistics in Texas for the past six years, Wallace said.

Chris Austin, UB transportation coordinator, said the most important component of the new contract is that all of the new buses will be identifiable, designed specifically for UB.

"The new buses will help build a stronger UB community morale," he said. "The students will know which buses belong to UB as well as which drivers belong to UB."

In addition to the blue and white color scheme, UB will offer some buses to campus groups for advertising and "message wrapping" beginning in May.

"The buses will be an excellent source of advertising," Wallace said.

According to transportation officials, the current drivers employed by Coach USA will be encouraged to work for Cognisa, but they may also seek other employment options offered by Coach USA.

Also under the contract, UB's new fleet of buses will all be the same type of bus, which is not the case now. Officials said with the new contract, the bus system will be efficient as well as consistent.

"The 25 buses will be brand new and will be all the same type of bus," Austin said. "The buses seat 38 passengers and there is standing room for 19 passengers."

Wallace said a bus's life span is ten years.

"Clearly, a brand new fleet will have fewer maintenance issues, fewer breakdowns, etc., which will positively impact our ability to service students on time," she said.

Both Wallace and Austin said they feel the new contract with Cognisa will increase service and satisfaction as well as offer students the best transportation available.

"If you increase service, more people will ride on board," Austin said.

With the new blue and white buses set to debut in May, UB is sponsoring a contest to name the new busing service. Students may submit their ideas for names online at MyUB from March 24 through March 30.

The top five names will be posted for a student vote on MyUB from March 31 through April 6. The top five winners will receive $50 in campus cash, and the grand prizewinner will receive a laptop computer and a gift basket of UB gift certificates and tickets. The grand prizewinner will also be invited to launch the new bus fleet during opening weekend.

Kent Do, junior exercise science major, said he's planning to enter the student contest.

"I think I have come up with a good idea for a name," he said. "The prizes offered are very nice so that was my incentive to enter the contest."

Do said he's heard of Cognisa's good reputation.

"They have proven to be very time efficient at other campuses," Do said. "The weather in Buffalo may be a factor with their 99 percent on-time statistics."