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February 22, 2008

ULM thanks Congressional Delegation for supporting Intermodal Transit Facility

Great things result from great partnerships, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe Intermodal Transit Facility is physical proof of this.

Since November 2007, ULM students have benefited from this campus improvement thanks to the dynamic support of community leaders like U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, and U.S. Sen. David Vitter. During a special presentation Feb. 21, ULM publicly thanked the Congressional delegation and other community leaders for their support.

SGA President Brady Middleton, a junior secondary education major from Mangham, spoke on behalf of the ULM student body. “I would like to thank President Cofer for the wonderful transformation our campus has seen over the last few years. I would also like to thank Congressman Alexander, Senator Landrieu, and Senator Vitter for their continued support of our university and our community, and this wonderful Intermodal Transit Facility.”

ULM President James Cofer introduced Congressman Alexander, who represents the Fifth District and is on the House Appropriations Committee. “We are very proud to call him our friend, and our Congressman, who helps us with this and so many projects for the university, the city, the parish, and the entire region.”

Rep. Alexander replied, “We’re always delighted to be here, and doing anything we can for this university.” He praised the ULM staff for their diligence in bringing important projects to the attention of his office at the national and local levels. “We have a good delegation that continue working hard together.”

He highlighted the necessity of earmarks, which helped secure the Intermodal Transit Facility. “Members of the Congress, whether it be in the House or the Senate who are aggressively seeking funding—when people like President Cofer present a good idea to us, it makes it easy for us to sell that to the members of Congress. Thank you for what you do.”

President Cofer concluded by thanking “the people who financed [the Intermodal Transit Facility], the people who made it possible, the people who built it, the people who designed it, and the people who funded it—and the people who get to park in it—they’re all here. Thank you all very much.”

Cofer also thanked Mayor Jamie Mayo and Rod Washington, of the City of Monroe, the NELA delegation, Sue Nicholson of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Malcolm Maddox and Roger Johnston of Capital One, Don Weems of ULM Facilities Inc., Jerry Brasher and Clint Graham of Lincoln Builders, and TB Architecture.

More about the Intermodal Transit Facility

ULM's Intermodal Transit Facility is the result of a $2.7 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration, with other funding supplied by ULM Facilities Inc., a 501(c)(3) being repaid by student parking fees.

The bus stop, formerly located in front of the Nursing Building, is now located in front of the new parking facility, which was financed by Capital One and designed by TB Architecture and Lincoln Builders.

Only students are allowed to park in this 270-space facility, located at 407 University Ave., and they must possess ULM parking permits. The only regulated spots are those designated as handicapped parking.

A gate regulates access; when it is open, spots are available, otherwise the gate will close when the transit facility is full. Inside, the speed limit is 10 mph. Hours of operation are 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Students have access to their vehicles and may exit with them outside of those hours, but no new vehicles can enter between 10 p.m. – 6 a.m.

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