Saint John is preparing to roll out “transformational” transit changes over the coming weeks and months.
The changes will lead to a better and easier-to-use transit service, according to the director of transit and fleet.
“A lot of work has been done in a short period of time. In the next weeks or months, the public will begin to see how we are making a plan a reality,” Ian Fogan told council on Monday night.
New “rapid lines” being rolled out on the city’s major transit routes will be the backbone of the plan, according to Fogan, noting that three in four current riders use these routes.
“On our rapid lines that we’ll be launching before September 4th, we’ll have buses out earlier, they’ll be out later, and with more frequency,” he said.
Buses will hit the road at 6 and 7 a.m. and run until 11 p.m. on weekdays. The frequency will also increase to 20 minutes.
“This will create the reliability and enable people to choose to use transit rather than having to use transit because they don’t have the economic power to choose differently,” said Fogan.
The rapid lines will be supplemented by on-demand service along low-ridership routes in the city.
Smaller 20-foot buses will be sent to where and when a call for service is made rather than driving on a route where passengers are not waiting. On-demand service will be accessed through an app or by phone.
Fogan said they will start with a 30-minute service window for those routes, with plans to improve that as time goes on.
“Many of these low-ridership routes right now might have a frequency of an hour, an hour and a half in between buses, so we’ll start with a commitment that we’ll provide a 30-minute level of service,” he said.
Saint John is piloting two sizes and models of electric buses. (Image: City of Saint John)
On-demand service could begin as early as August and will likely be phased in across the city as smaller buses arrive, said Fogan.
Saint John Transit will also introduce electronic fare options, giving passengers more flexibility in how they pay for their trip. Those who want to pay by cash will still be able to do so.
On top of that, the city is piloting two sizes and models of electric buses. The first bus, a 40-foot BYD KZ which will hold 41 passengers, will hit the streets on Tuesday morning.
A 20-foot Karzan Jest bus with a 12-passenger capacity has also arrived in the city. Fogan said Saint John will be the first North American city to deploy this particular bus.
Staff are also conducting an inventory of all 721 transit stops in an effort to improve them for users. They will be placed into three levels with amenities and service determined by ridership and service area.
“We’re looking at how we roll out better bus stops, how do we provide a better level of service, how do we better service them, how do we make it a more comfortable service to use,” said Fogan.
You can find more details about the changes by clicking here.
