DeKALB | The bill containing the Huskie Bus Line’s global positioning system proposal remains under consideration in the SA Finance Committee. The system was originally expected to debut this month.

“The bill will come before the full Senate after the final approval of the committee,” said SA Senate speaker Robert Batey.

“I would like to see a test by the end of the semester,” said SA president Adam Novotney. “I want this to be at full running capacity by fall 2007.”

The system will offer greater convenience to students by enabling them to see where the buses are located at any time, said Brent Keller, director of Mass Transit.

The geography department’s advanced geospatial laboratory located on campus will capture the signal coming off the buses.

The GPS will track the buses and broadcast the buses’ locations online and around campus.

In addition to the added convenience, the GPS will enable dispatchers to more efficiently manage the fleet and add a layer of additional safety.

“The cost of the GPS system is currently more than $10,000,” Keller said. “The only hardware needed on the buses is a computer chip, which will cost $200 each, on each of the Huskie Line’s 25 buses. The large flat-screen TV at Holmes Student Center cost $6,000. We are talking with TCF Bank, hoping they will purchase additional TVs to display the system in exchange for advertising.”

The money for this project will come out of the fiscal year 2007 budget, Novotney said. The SA is also looking into other advertisers for the future.

He also said he hoped for several additional displays, including at DuSable Hall and the Holmes Student Center.