When most students are busy going to classes, one ISU student is busy influencing the Ames community.

Jenny Larson, senior in political science, was elected president of the Ames Transit Board on Thursday.

The Transit Board’s charge is the financial sector of CyRide – budgeting funds, purchasing new buses, approving new routes, and most currently, the new bus garage project.

“The Ames Transit Board’s role is not very exciting,” Larson said. “But we are very influential in what we do and who we do it for.”

Bob Bourne, director of transportation for Ames, said the board takes care of the big-picture goals and policy-making for the bus system in order to best serve the public.

“Jenny understands these board views,” he said. “She’s strong and articulate, and that makes her a pleasure to work with.”

Student participation has always been vital on the Ames Transit Board, Bourne said.

“In my 21 years of service to the city of Ames, the students have always been a strong presence in the board atmosphere,” he said.

In 1974, Ames had a very simple, three-route busing system, Larson said. When the gas prices increased in the ’70s and ’80s, the need for more mass transportation increased as well.

The ISU Government of the Student Body, the university, and the city of Ames agreed to a three-tiered funding arrangement to expand routes.

To protect each groups’ interests and influence, each group has seats on the transit board, Larson said.

Today, there are two student seats filled by Larson and Justin Hillock, senior in history.

Larson got involved on the transit board in the fall of 2000 while she was the Richardson Court Association senator for GSB. Then-Speaker of the Senate Chris Wisher was looking for an ISU student to serve on the board.

“At first, my interest in serving on the board was to fulfill a requirement for senators of the GSB – each must serve on a committee during their term,” Larson said.

During that first year, she was elected vice president of the board and became a key leader in parenting the passage of Fare-Free CyRide.

Larson said she worked with Bourne extensively to coordinate services students wanted, as well as costs for Iowa State, the city of Ames and CyRide.

In addition, Larson and Bourne focused on the additional buses and staff that would be required and its additional

funding.

Last spring, the funding referendum was placed on the GSB ballot.

Larson said she “was quite pleased with the voter turnout for that ballot” because more students voted for Fare-Free CyRide than the combined president-vice president slates.

“We are all very lucky that Iowa State agreed to help fund Fare-Free CyRide because not only students, but faculty and staff as well, benefit from having the three free routes on campus,” Larson said.

Bourne said Larson was instrumental in getting the program started.

“Jenny was a very responsible factor in this program’s success,” he said.

“It was a pleasure working with her, as well as the fine leadership of the GSB, on such a

program.”

Larson’s role as president will continue until spring, when the GSB session ends for the year.

At that time, GSB will appoint two new representatives.

Larson said she has lots to do until then.

“GSB has asked me to work for expanding the hours of Moonlight Express so that is on my personal agenda for the rest of my term,” she said.

The board will continue to work out the finer details of Fare-Free CyRide, which will be completely effective beginning in August, Larson said.

Bourne said Larson negotiates with all three of CyRide’s publics – the students, the Ames community and Iowa State – to focus on the needs and costs of running a mass-transportation system.

“The Ames community and Iowa State are fortunate to have such a good transit board that is focused on providing the best busing service at the best possible cost,” Bourne said.

“Jenny understands the value of CyRide’s impact, which is crucial when balancing the needs of the students, city and university. She knows what she’s doing.”