We are excited to see that the Student Association is making an effort to put student funding in an area that will directly benefit the student body.

As discussed at the SA meeting Sunday, plans are in the works to implement a GPS system for the Huskie Bus Line, at an estimated cost of about $11,000 for the entire project.

Many students are familiar with the frustrations that can come with waiting for a bus to get to class. Once the cold temperatures and freezing winds of DeKalb hit, it’s rather unpleasant to wait outside for a bus only to find it pass you by because it’s filled to capacity.

The GPS system would help cut back on this irritation by allowing students to track where the buses are on their respective routes. By accessing an interactive map on NIU’s Web site, students could figure out what time they need to leave their apartment or residence hall room in order to catch the next bus.

GPS also would allow managers at the Huskie Bus Line to follow where their buses and drivers are, which would help them answer customer calls more accurately, said Al Davis, interim general manager for the Huskie Bus Line.

Davis also said several bus routes can be affected by traffic such as the route 7, which picks students up at the Holmes Student Center and takes them to the Target and Wal-Mart shopping areas, and this new tracking system would help buses avoid excess congestion.

This new system may be implemented within the next year, and as long as the SA stays within its prescribed budget and works to maintain its Web site, we are looking forward to the benefits it will reap.