Most students a have tough time trying to navigate around the city of Tallahassee, whether it’s walking or waiting 45 minutes to catch your StarMetro bus, but one Florida A&M University student has a thrifty alternative to help those without transportation.
Marquise McMiller, a senior political science major from Gary, Ind., He is a part-time student, a full-time supervisor at Wal-Mart, soldier for the Florida Army National Guard and an entrepreneur.
McMiller is the Chairman and CEO of Advanced Transit Incorporated, a transportation and logistical consulting business. All founders and owners attend or have graduated from FAMU, stemming from various professional backgrounds and areas across the country.
The idea sparked when McMiller was a member of student government association and his vision was to provide a service that students could see their money at work.
McMiller said, “People need to go places and they want go without a hassle. They want to go places at the most convenient cost.”
ATI offers community and public transportation site; this service offers students a bus system and a taxi. While other competitors charge $15 to $20 to travel, ATI ensures a cheaper way to get to your destination. Students can use this service and travel anywhere in the city of Tallahassee for $5.
“Even our new pricing is cheaper than all the other transportation competitors in the market,” McMiller said.
McMiller stresses that quality and safety is one of the company’s main focuses. ATI provides the newest model of vehicles and makes that the quality exceeds the standard to make sure that the customers have a safety cost efficient quality service.
For Brandon Perry, a freshman business student from Port St. John, Fla., takes advantage of ATI services since he lives on campus.
“There are times when I need to go to the store and I don’t want depend on the bus, I call Advanced Transport,” Perry said.
Off campus students like Nicole Barnes also use ATI.
“I work on at the Tallahassee Mall and taking the bus just doesn’t do it for me but Advanced Transportation gets me there and it’s cheap,” Barnes said.
McMiller plans for the company to become a national corporation. He plans to start locally to impact the students at FAMU, Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College. ATI plans to endeavor into commercial motor coaching and be able to travel on interstate highways.
ATI operates Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to midnight. The shuttles are located on the FAMU’s Set, the FAMU Village and Palmetto South.
For more information go to advancetrans.weebly.com