By Jordan Thompson
Contributing writer
Sherman Texoma Area Paratransit System also known as TAPS offers a transportation service for Texas resident students and faculty who go to Southeastern. This transportation system is called the Storm Route.
Project Manager of TAPS Tammy Johnson said that the number of passengers so far this semester has increased almost three times from last semester. A big reason for this increase is the extended hours of the route.
The route runs approximately four hours longer this semester.
Instead of the last departure from Southeastern being at 12:45 p.m. the last departure is 4:25 p.m., offering more flexibility for class schedules.
The route runs Monday through Friday with the first departing at 6:40 a.m. from Sherman and the last drop-off at 5:10 p.m. back in Sherman.
The TAPS Public Transit is located at 6104 Texoma Parkway in Sherman, Texas. This is the pickup and drop-off location for Sherman riders.
The route also has a pickup and drop-off spot in Denison, and that location is 2300 W. Morton St. at the Morton Street Plaza.
The bus stops every two hours at each location.
Bus fare is $1 for each trip or a $20 month pass.
Junior English education major Ashley Miller, who began riding the bus last semester, said she lives in Sherman but rides from Denison because she likes to wake up later and get dropped off earlier.
Miller also said she likes riding better this semester because she likes that the bus departs on its scheduled time.
She said that saving money and wear and tear on her car is her reason for riding.
After adding almost 400 miles in one week last semester, she said she couldn’t do that anymore.
Miller also said that she has noticed a larger number of students who ride the bus this semester.
Johnson said, that TAPS is a grant funded project called JARC, which stands for Job Access and Reverse Commute, so TAPS makes no personal income.
For more information on times and locations, visit tapsbus.com.