No Disruption to Crimson Ride as UA Switches Transit Contractors, University Says
The University of Alabama has hired a new company to run the Crimson Ride, its on-campus bus program, and 88 jobs a state filing said were being eliminated will likely be moved to the incoming contractor’s payroll instead.
Groome Transportation will take over campus transit services after what the university called a competitive procurement process. The company replaces First Transit, which has operated Crimson Ride since the system launched in 2007.
First Transit filed notice with the Alabama Department of Workforce on Monday that it would close its Tuscaloosa operation on December 18, affecting 88 employees. The filing described the move as a closure rather than a layoff and said nothing about a successor.
Offers on the Table
On Thursday, the University confirmed to the Thread that it is hiring a new transportation company, but UA and Groome say the workers from First Transit Inc. are not losing their livelihoods.
“UA understands that all drivers and maintenance technicians will be offered to transition to the new vendor,” the university said in a statement. “The transition for campus is planned with no disruption to Crimson Ride.”
Groome said the process is already running.
“Our transition plan includes working toward employment offers for all qualified drivers, supervisors, and maintenance technicians currently serving the University, and that effort is already well underway,” the company said. “We expect a seamless transition for employees, the University, and the campus community, with no interruption in service.”
No Break in Buses Running
“Groome Transportation is thrilled to be chosen as the University of Alabama’s new transit services partner,” the company said in a statement provided to the Thread. “With a long history of delivering best-in-class transportation services to universities, Groome understands that great service begins with great employees. We are excited to welcome these employees to the Groome team and look forward to a successful long-term partnership supporting UA’s campus shuttle operations.”
First Transit has run Crimson Ride under contract with UA’s Department of Transportation Services since 2007. When the university extended the partnership in 2016, the company employed 75 people in Tuscaloosa and operated 51 university-owned buses.
The December 18 closure date posted on the WARN List falls after the end of the fall semester.
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