Saint John Transit is making changes to its routes for the first time in two years.
Ian MacKinnon, president and CEO of the Saint John Transit and Parking Commission, says more than 1,800 service hours will be added starting Feb. 3.
More trips will be added during weekday rush hours to provide 15-minute service along major routes connecting McAllister Place, Fairville Boulevard, the uptown, UNB Saint John and the hospital.
Some of our routes & schedules are changing February 3rd, 2019. Visit https://t.co/HXOSgpJQVY for more information.
— Saint John Transit (@ThinkTransitSJ) January 7, 2019
Additional trips will also be added to some Saturday routes and several routes will be renamed.
MacKinnon said the improvements result from a ridership survey last August, where a transit employee rode on city buses and gathered feedback.
“We wanted to talk to our customers and learn what we were missing, what they needed, what they didn’t have that they needed with regard to the transit service,” said MacKinnon.
Master Transportation Plan
The changes are part of the city’s transportation plan called MoveSJ, which MacKinnon said called for the “methodical” addition of hours over a 10-year period.
There will not be any added trips on Sundays, but MacKinnon did not rule out changes in the future.
“We hope to create a service plan around September of each year, prior to budget season, and what we would do is present that as what would be needed in future years,” he said.
The only reduction in service is a 3:30 p.m. trip along Loch Lomond Road, which MacKinnon said was not being used.
Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
(File photo/Acadia News)
