While working on an assignment for class to take advantage of the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority bus fare waiver for DMC students, locals were able to shine some light on challenges they face while riding the bus.
Coming from Knoxville, Tennessee, where public transportation is essential to getting around downtown on game days and weekends, navigating the bus has never been an issue for me. Even for a first timer, riding the bus there is simple; you get on the bus, wait for it to get to your stop and you get off. For residents here in Corpus Christi, it is not always that simple.
The first issue I ran into while trying to ride the bus was the lack of updates on bus arrival and departures. The CCRTA website said the bus was running on time, but it ended up being around 10-15 minutes late. As if it wasn’t bad enough waiting longer than anticipated in 90-degree heat, a couple of bees decided this would be the perfect time to harass me.
The bus finally showed up and I was able to ride for free after showing the bus driver my student ID. To get to my destination I needed to catch a connecting bus, so I used the CCRTA website to help me navigate where I needed to get off. The website includes tips and tricks on how to board, pay your fare and how to exit at your destination. While this is useful, the bus itself lacks instructions on how to request a stop, which caused me to miss a connection. Missing your connecting bus can set you back 45 minutes to an hour; for people who use the bus to get to work, this can have major consequences.
“During the week, public transportation is a must for me,” said Rudy Avalos, who relies on the bus in Corpus Christi to get back and forth from work. Avalos has been riding the bus since he was in middle school but even for an experienced passenger, navigating the bus can be anxiety inducing.
“Honestly, feeling safe depends on certain routes,” said Avalos. “Not being familiar with the side of town and not knowing the bus route and it takes a turn you were not expecting can raise your anxiety.” When asked if there were any changes to the public transportation he would suggest, Avalos mentioned that adding later bus schedules would help with the distance he has to cover on the way back home from work.
“Because of the stigma that is around the bus and who rides the bus, other people don’t want to ride it,” said Andrew Galvan, another local who has been using public transportation in Corpus Christi for about three years. Despite CCRTA winning the 2026 Certificate of Merit for Bus Safety from the American Public Transportation Association, when asked if he felt safe riding the bus Galvan said, “Not really, dude. The average person that rides is fine but you never know what kind of unstable person can walk up on here.”
The CCRTA makes it clear on their website that they are committed to providing an accessible, safe and sustainable way to get around Corpus Christi. While you may face some challenges regarding punctuality and communication, your safety is guaranteed while riding the bus. For DMC students, this means you can take advantage of your student ID and get your fare waived the next time you ride the bus, worry-free. Just remember to pull the “stop request” cord one block before your destination.
