Days before LSU’s first home football game this season, the Capital Area Transit System has announced it will suspend its Touchdown Express service for gamedays in September due to issues the city-parish bus agency is facing after August’s historic flooding.
While CATS says it has restored service to most of its routes, at least in some capacity, since the flood, dozens of its bus operators and other employees were affected by high waters. In addition, some buses have been damaged after driving through floodwaters to help rescue residents, CATS says in a news release issued today.
The agency says it will re-evaluate in the coming weeks whether it has the resources available to revive the Touchdown Express later in the year. CATS will continue to offer limited service on some lines and no service on others as it continues to work with a limited staff and vehicle fleet.
In operation for the last several years, the Touchdown Express bus service is offered on Saturdays when LSU plays at Tiger Stadium. The route runs between downtown and LSU’s campus.
LSU hosts Jacksonville State this Saturday in its first home contest of the 2016 season.
“Unfortunately, we do not feel that this is a service we can provide for the next several weeks while also providing regular, fixed route service, which is our top priority, as local businesses also try to recover with workers and shoppers that we transport,” says Interim CATS CEO Bill Deville in a statement. “CATS is looking forward to launching Touchdown Express service later in the season.”
CATS has more information on the Touchdown Express suspension, as well as details on how to track bus routes.
