University of Wisconsin business fraternity Phi Beta Lambda said at a meeting Wednesday it is using a more developed structure to put out a service for UW students — a bus company.

PBL, which is a part of the Future Business Leaders of America organization, began the year with a focus on entrepreneurship.

Kelly Shafer, a PBL member and part of the marketing division, said after the group brainstormed ideas, "we just whittled it down to what we thought made the most sense, what was in the most demand."

"I tried to set it up with three people last year, but the workload was way too much," said Erich Rusch, president of PBL. "But once we had these tasks handled by the 40 members here, everything really took off."

The benefit of the bus company is that it will offer a convenient and available travel option to students looking to go home or visit friends, Rusch said.

PBL has established three routes to facilitate the growing need: from Madison to La Crosse, to Milwaukee and to the Twin Cities. Ticket prices for the trips, which will be available online or on the day of departure, will vary directly with the length of the trip. Current one-way prices from Madison range from approximately $12 for Milwaukee to $30 to the Twin Cities, but are subject to decrease within the near future.

Shafer believes "it’s going to be more of a relaxed atmosphere and … it’s going to be mainly for college students."

She said the fact that the program will start with school buses instead of coach buses will add to the "fun atmosphere."

One of PBL’s main goals in creating the bus company is not simply to generate profit — it wants to provide a service for students.

"We want to offer Madison students cheaper bus service," Rusch said.

He also hopes that, in the process, the company will "get some students that are going into Business School some real firsthand business experience before they go on to their internships or employment."

The first bus trip will take place at Thanksgiving time and serve as the company’s kickoff. From then on, PBL is planning to develop a route schedule that travels to the set locations every weekend.

And as soon as second semester, Rusch voiced the possibility of routes running on a daily basis. However, PBL knows that much of the company’s future depends on demand and is not promising anything yet.

"I’m really confident Madison’s going to get behind us in this," Rusch said.

Whether the bus company will be used to make visits to friends easier, traveling more convenient, or simply as way to get home, PBL hopes it will become a vital part of campus.