In 2008, Oxford University Transit began its bus service with just seven employees.
The service was launched as a means to travel around campus and the city of Oxford easily. It is free for students and faculty, offering a stress-free, frugal option for commuters.
The system has grown significantly in the past seven years. Today, the Oxford University Transit system has 49 employees and 10 different routes going anywhere from apartment complexes to the Square and Walmart.
Matt Davis, director of parking for the City of Oxford, said he has seen the positive impact of the transit system on the city.
“As far as parking goes, O.U.T. has helped to reduce the number of vehicles parked on campus and in the surrounding areas,” Davis said. “This effort helps tremendously to solve a number of traffic congestion problems in the Oxford area.”
Students board an O.U.T bus before school. (Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
According to Davis, Oxford University Transit carries over one million passengers a year— the most passengers for a public transit system in the state of Mississippi.
Oxford University Transit Superintendent Ron Biggs said the system is intentional in finding employees who are specifically suited for the job.
“During my interview process, while talking to an individual, I look for a person who has people skills,” explained Biggs. “As long as I have been doing this, I’ve become a good judge of one’s character.”
One employee of the Oxford University Transit system, Agrecia Frierson, displays these characteristics.
Frierson is from Oxford and the majority of her family also resides in town, including her mother, father, six children and a grandson.
Frierson’s time behind the wheel starts on the Blue Line every day at 5:55 a.m. Her line runs from Brittany Woods to Walmart to campus. Her shift ends at 1:45 p.m.
Prior to working for the transit system, Frierson worked as a custodian at Oxford Middle School and then at the Phi Mu house on campus. She started working for Oxford University Transit after renovations at the sorority house took longer than expected.
“I need every dollar that I can (get) to make ends meet,” Frierson said. “This is the best job I’ve had. Nobody is hanging over your head. If you make a mistake, it is on you.”
Frierson said she likes the accountability that the job puts in place for its employees.
“I am dedicated to my job, and my boss man will tell you that, too,” Frierson said.
One example of that dedication can be seen in her relationships with the students who regularly ride her bus. She talked about four particular passengers whom she knows best.
“If I’m not going to be at work, I have their numbers, and I personally let them know,” Frierson said. “I tell them they need to get to the bus earlier than usual, and they let me know when they get on.”
She makes sure her passengers have the best experience, even when she cannot be physically present.
“There have been times when I’ve been home, and riders will call me because the bus hasn’t come,” said Frierson. “I will get in my personal vehicle and give them a ride myself.”
Frierson is passionate about her role as a driver and makes it her personal goal to always give the customers her best.
“People like to ride my bus because I’m on time and I treat others like I want to be treated,” Frierson said.
Frierson’s actions have not gone unnoticed by her employer.
“Agrecia is a very dedicated employee,” Biggs said. “She has taken responsibility over several instances that went above and beyond her duties as a bus operator. Agrecia is an asset to O.U.T.”
