Topper Transit

{{Short description|Provider of mass transportation in Warren County, Kentucky}}

{{Infobox Bus transit

| name = Topper Transit

| logo =

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| parent =

| founded =

| headquarters = 1906 College Heights. Blvd.

| locale = Western Kentucky University

| service_area = Bowling Green, Kentucky

| service_type = Bus service

| alliance =

| routes = 3 (Formerly 4)

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| fleet = 14 buses

| annual ridership= 735,000 (2015)

| website = [https://www.wku.edu/transportation/transit/index.php Topper Transit]

}}

Topper Transit is a provider of mass transportation in Bowling Green, Kentucky with four routes primarily serving the Western Kentucky University campus. It is a service of WKU's Parking and Transportation Services and complements GO bg Transit, which covers a wider swath of the city. As of 2015, the system provided 735,000 rides with 14 buses annually.{{cite news|url=https://wkuherald.com/34286/life/history-of-wkus-topper-transit-bus-system/|title=History of… WKU’s Topper Transit Bus System|newspaper=College Heights Herald|date=November 5, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2023}}

History

Service has grown considerably from 165,000 riders in 2006 to 735,000 in 2015. A 2014 survey found Topper Transit drivers were ranked first among the best features of WKU.{{cite news|url=https://wkuherald.com/34286/life/history-of-wkus-topper-transit-bus-system/|title=History of… WKU’s Topper Transit Bus System|newspaper=College Heights Herald|date=November 5, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2023}} In April 2018, Bus #13 was converted to run on biodiesel to celebrate Earth Month.{{cite web|url=https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/?view=article&articleid=6269|title=Converted cooking oil fuels Topper Transit bus|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=September 2, 2023}} In 2020, service was severely curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.wku.edu/cebs/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=9007|title=View from the Hill: Topper Transit changes for fall semester|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=September 2, 2023}} Service returned to normal in January 2021, with three routes operating at the time.{{cite news|url=https://wkuherald.com/12136/news/news-campus-life/topper-transit-offers-three-new-bus-routes-for-students/|title=Topper Transit offers three new bus routes for students|date=January 16, 2021|newspaper=College Heights Herald|access-date=September 2, 2023}} In 2023, both Topper Transit and GO bg Transit were brought under the same operator, however the services, fares, and buses remain separate.{{cite news|url=https://www.wnky.com/wku-and-go-bg-transit-work-to-further-align/|title=WKU and GO bg Transit work to further align|date=August 21, 2023|author=Michael Ridgeway|newspaper=News 40|access-date=September 2, 2023}}

Service

Topper Transit operates three bus routes, and formerly operated a fourth. Three of these bus routes center on campus during weekdays and one route formerly provided Saturday service to shopping destinations. When WKU is in session, hours of operation for the system are Monday through Friday from 7:15 A.M. to 5:45 P.M. and on Saturdays from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. There is no service on Sundays. When WKU was not in session prior to July 2024, only Route 4 would operate from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. As of July 5, 2024, Route 4 has been discontinued and is no longer offered as part of the Topper Transit service. The service is fare-free.{{cite web|url=https://www.wku.edu/transportation/transit/index.php|title=Transit|access-date=September 2, 2023}}

=Routes=

Route 1 South Campus
Route 2 Kentucky Street
Route 3 Campus Circulator
Route 4 Shopping Shuttle (Discontinued as of July 5, 2024)

References

External links

[https://www.wku.edu/transportation/transit/index.php Topper Transit]

Category:Bowling Green, Kentucky

Category:Bus transportation in Kentucky

Category:Transit agencies in Kentucky