Saint John Transit is preparing to implement temporary service reductions to help offset the impacts of COVID-19.
Service on all routes in the city will be reduced by 20 per cent and there will be no bus service on Sundays.
All routes will continue to be serviced, except for the Champlain Express and the airport bus stop which was cancelled in March.
City officials say Comex and handi-bus buses will not be impacted by the temporary service reductions, which begin on April 26.
Earlier this month, the Saint John Transit Commission announced it would be scaling back service and laying off up to 19 employees to help offset the financial impacts caused by the pandemic.
Marc Dionne, the interim CEO of Saint John Transit, said fare suspensions and passenger restrictions have directly impacted their financial health.
“Those are two big things that, in essence, have curtailed the Saint John Transit’s revenue collection. That amounts to close to $360,000 per month,” Dionne told Common Council on April 6.
Plexiglass barriers have been installed on all 46 buses to protect the drivers and allow fare collection to resume, but seating on all buses remains limited to nine passengers.
Commission members estimate salaries and benefits will be reduced by $120,000 a month while fuel consumption will decrease by around $14,000 a month.
The city has posted the updated service schedules on its website.
