(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Revving up service

Transit returns to regular hours Monday

Jun 3, 2020 | 12:13 PM

Starting Monday, Prince Albert buses will begin running at 6:45 a.m. daily. City councillors approved a phased approach to scale transit back up to regular service levels at Monday’s city council meeting.

Transit service was reduced at the end of April to protect losses as ridership decreased due to the pandemic.

On Monday night, city transportation and traffic manager, Keri Sapsford told councillors $20,000 was saved by temporarily cutting hours and suspending one route.

The Rush Hour Route, shown in pink will partially resume service on Monday. (Council Agenda Package/City of P.A.)

However, Sapsford explained staff are expecting ridership to increase as more businesses, including gyms and restaurants, are allowed to reopen under phase three of the provincial plan on June 8.

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To maintain distance, each bus can only accomodate 10 passengers.

“We wanted to match the phasing with the provincial government, when more businesses were open we knew that we’d probably see a jump in ridership on June 8,” Sapsford said.

Monday will also see the reintroduction of the Rush Hour Route from 2:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Administration has also laid out a plan when the East Flat Route is consistently refusing 10 or more rides an hour, the Rush Hour Route will be implemented in the morning from 6:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Monthly transit passes will continue to be offered at $25 per month until city hall opens.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom