North Bay Transit is expanding its operating hours and introducing a new route for the McKeown Avenue corridor.
The city says the changes start next Tuesday, September 7th and are due to more people in the community returning to work and school this fall.
“The City of North Bay has remained committed to maintaining public transit as an essential service throughout the pandemic, adapting to public health restrictions and fluctuations in ridership,” said Coun. Chris Mayne, Chair of Council’s Infrastructure and Operations Committee. “Moving forward, we will continue to respond to the needs of the community.”
Earlier start times are being implemented for several routes including 1a College/University, 3 Ski Club/Pinewood, 4 Junction, 6 Hornell-CFB, and 7 Birchaven routes.
The city says the new 1c McKeown Corridor route will increase frequency on McKeown Avenue, and fixed route service will be extended to 7 p.m.
The new route will also include service to the North Bay Regional Health Centre by request, for drop off only.
The 1c route will operate Monday to Friday for over three hours in the morning and another three hours in the afternoon.
During the trial period, it will use the intersection of Algonquin and Shirreff avenues as a decentralized hub, and will not travel to the downtown transit terminal.
Dynamic Dispatch service hours will also be adjusted and passenger limits will be increased to 40 people per bus.
All city buses are equipped with a barrier separating operators and passengers and face coverings are required on buses in accordance with public health directives.
