MALTA – The Voluntary Action Center showcased one of its newest transit buses Wednesday at Kishwaukee College.

To meet growing student ridership, Kishwaukee College officials worked with VAC and DeKalb officials to secure funding to purchase four new buses, two of which soon will be added on the route to the college.

VAC and Kishwaukee College officials, along with representatives from DeKalb, toured one of the new buses that VAC's transportation service, TransVAC, has added to its fleet.

VAC Executive Director Tom Zucker said the center has provided transportation from the DeKalb and Sycamore areas to Kishwaukee College for more than 25 years. The number of riders on the route rises as the college's enrollment increases.

Zucker said in the first quarter of this fiscal year, the route had about 4,000 riders, up from 3,000 riders in the same period in the previous fiscal year.

"This really significantly increases the capacity of our passengers," he said. "We look forward to this new era in Kishwaukee College transportation."

Tom Choice, president of Kishwaukee College, said without the TransVAC buses, some students wouldn't have means of getting to campus. He thanked VAC officials for being responsive to the college's growing ridership needs and thanked DeKalb officials for helping secure funding.

Brian Dickson, transportation planner for DeKalb, said VAC purchased four buses using a combination of 2008 federal stimulus funds and an allocation from the Federal Transit Administration. The four buses cost $1.7 million.

DeKalb ordered the buses from Eldorado Axcess in January 2011. Two 35-foot buses will be added to the green and blue lines in DeKalb and Sycamore. Two 40-foot buses will be added to the college route.

The buses on the college route can seat 41 people and fit another 20 people standing. They are handicap accessible. A rack that fits two bicycles is attached to the front of each bus.

Choice praised TransVAC for keeping fares of about $8 a week for students and staff who use the transit system.

"Without the services you provide, many people wouldn't be able to access our services," he said.