Common Council and its Transit Commission have approved an agreement which will see responsibility for daily operations of the bus service moved into City Hall. The Transit Commission will remain in place dealing with long term goals for delivery of services.
The move comes as the Commission deals with a report making a number of recommendations to overhaul the service and its routes to make the system more efficient. City Manager John Collin says the new “business model should enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our transit system – and – ultimately and eventually lead to an increase in service hours and or reduction in costs.”
Councillor Brent Harris both say the agreement is an excellent move that will see transit service improved for users.
Among the proposals for streamlining routes and scheduling in the Stantec report is the elimination of Sunday Service. The report is suggesting reinstating Sunday service be kept as a medium to long range option.
The proposal calls for most routes to operate between 6am and 6pm weekdays with 3 mainline routes including service to the Regional Hospital operating until 11:30pm. Service frequency would also undergo some changes. Saturday service would begin at 7am or 8am depending on the route with the three mainline routes ending service at 11pm.
The report recommends developing an “on request” service using the existing handi-bus system and targeted at specific neighbourhoods. A new proposed Express route would offer service along Bayside Drive to the Community College.
A copy of the report can be found here.
