(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Public health restrictions create detour

Reduced service for Red Deer Transit starting Sunday

Dec 18, 2020 | 11:58 AM

Red Deer Transit will operate with reduced hours and frequency beginning this Sunday in response to recent changes to public health restrictions.

Officials say the decision was made “in an effort to be vigilant in The City’s response and planning related to COVID-19.”

Starting Sunday (Dec. 20), transit will move to a one-hour frequency starting at 7 a.m., with the exception of the Gaetz Avenue Rapid Bus, or Route 1, which will operate on a 30-minute frequency throughout the day.

Hours of service will be as follows:

Route 1, the Gaetz Avenue Rapid Bus, will operate on a 30-minute frequency throughout the day, with service from 7 a.m. to midnight.

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Routes 2, 3 and 4 will operate on a one-hour frequency from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Red Deer Transit will offer dynamic shuttle service from 8 p.m. until midnight to transport riders from Sorensen Station to bus stops around the City. Red Deer Transit will have four buses to offer service upon request.

Route 12 to Gasoline Alley will operate on a 30-minute frequency with service from 6:45 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.

Regional 2A service, routes 103 and 104, remain unchanged.

Routes 18 and 19 will see reduced service to industrial areas, with early service continuing on Route 18. Details and hours will be shared on the City website as they are confirmed.

Action Bus trips will be limited to bookings for essential travel for medical appointments, work, education and grocery shopping only.

In addition to these changes, Red Deer Transit would like to remind transit riders of coming holiday seasonal hours, as follows:

On December 24, Transit will offer regular service at the new reduced service levels, with the last departure from Sorensen Station until 6:45 p.m. Transit Customer Service will remain open until 4:30 p.m.

In recognition of statutory holidays, there will be no transit service on December 25 or January 1.

Dynamic Shuttle service will not operate from December 24 to 27. Service will resume on December 28.

Transit Customer Service will be closed from December 25 to 28, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 29 to 31, with regular hours resuming January 2.

As with other City offices, Transit Administration offices will be closed from December 25 through January 2.

City Manager Allan Seabrooke confirms there will also be “temporary work interruptions that will happen in Transit across the board for whatever amount of time these provincial restrictions remain in place” affecting approximately 25 full-time, part-time and casual staff, or about 20 per cent of the Red Deer Transit workforce.

Seabrooke says these latest Transit service level and hours reductions are similar to what was enacted during the early stages of the pandemic last spring.

He estimates ridership could drop be between 25 to 50 per cent while the current provincial restrictions are in place.

“We recognize the challenges these changes pose to our riders as they rely on this service, and are doing everything we can to minimize the impacts for our community,” said George Penny, Transit Manager. “We are confident that, with added dynamic shuttle service, we are able to ensure continuity of service for our riders.”

The City is reminding all riders that masks are still required to be worn when using transit service, and that riders should practice safe physical distancing while riding the bus and waiting at bus stops.

Detailed information about transit service changes are available online at reddeer.ca/transit.