Students will soon ride farther, easier with new shuttle partnership at Southeast Missouri State University
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — A new partnership will take Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) students farther and more easily.
The partnership between SEMO and Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority (CGCTA) will significantly expand transportation access and improve service, according to university officials.
Starting July 1, 2025, SEMO will be transitioning its transit services over to CGCTA and will be ready for students at the beginning of the fall 2025 academic semester.
It’s a move university leaders said will improve reliability and expand access for students.
SEMO director of public safety and transit, Rich Flotron said CGCTA is able to offer a better service.
“That’s what they do,” he said, “and it’s just going to be a better service for the students and for everybody involved.”
The existing campus shuttle routes will stay the same, but under CGCTA management, students will be able to travel to key locations off-campus – like shopping centers, medical offices, and local recreation spots – all free of charge.
The move also means lower operating costs for SEMO and the student government.
SEMO students expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming transition.
“When people are parked way across campus and they have to walk all the way across campus, it’s nice to have a transit,” Morgan Henderson said, “you know, because it takes a lot of time, especially if you’re rushing to get to class and stuff like that. So it’s nice that that they’re going to expand that.”
“We have a lot of international students that need to be able to go off campus that don’t always have access to a vehicle,” Carly Sisson said. “So I know a lot of them either carpool a lot or, you know, they have to rely heavily on the shuttles.”
“I thought it was really, really beneficial for not only the students and staff, but just the community in general,” Riley Schuld said.
Current SEMO shuttle drivers won’t be left behind. CGCTA said it plans to hire them as a part of the transition.
