Transportation proposals made by both parties running for Student Government Association are already in the works, University Transit mangers say.

The Office Party is campaigning on a plan of extending on-campus transportation to 24 hours.

In recent years, University Transit has planned to implement 24-hour transportation, Chris Baker, assistant manager for operations of University Transit, said.

Starting in fall 2008, on-campus buses will run 24 hours at least Monday through Thursday, in accordance with the dining hall hours, he said.

“This plan has definitely been in the works for a long time,” Ron Hamlin, Campus Transit manager, said.

He said no SGA representatives have contacted him about the proposals.

Connor McCarthy, presidential candidate for the Office Party, said members of the group knew Campus Transit was considering the idea of 24-hour service. He said his party wants to ensure the proposal is pushed into action.

The Office Party also proposed extending the Milledge Avenue bus route to 10 p.m. to improve safety and relieve parking issues for Greek houses and surrounding neighborhoods, according to the party’s Web site.

Baker said Milledge buses used to run until 9 p.m. four or five years ago, but after 6:30 p.m., the buses were usually empty.

“It was just wasting diesel fuel,” he said. “There’s a lot more to it than just extending bus routes, such as increased wear and tear on the bus and hiring additional dispatchers and drivers.”

Michael Bodiford, a junior and a University Transit employee, has driven the Milledge route every semester since May 2006.

He said after 5:30 p.m., Milledge buses usually are empty and extending the route is unnecessary.

“Putting more buses on Milledge is suicide,” he said. “It is infeasible to add more buses.”

The Foundation Party proposed installing tracking systems in University buses and Web site monitors.

“We have been talking about this for several years,” Baker said, but the cost is significant.

McCoy Pitt, the Foundation Party’s presidential candidate, said he has discussed the option with TransLoc Inc., which provides tracking systems for Auburn University and Emory University, among others. But, he said he has not talked to the University about his proposal.

Baker said SGA can ask the University administration to make changes, but Campus Transit ultimately makes the decisions about bus routes.

The 24-hour change could increase student transportation fees by about $5, Hamlin

said. Extension of the Milledge bus route would increase rates even more, he said.