Editorial: Transit service expansion a smart move
Commission started offering bus runs through noon hour, into the evenings
![The Miramichi Public Transit Commission is now offering bus runs during the lunch hour and for an extra hour on weekday evenings.](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/nexus/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/0308-ml-miramichi-editorial.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=Of9HeiuzLV62FsvtgbnxQw)
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The Miramichi Public Transit Commission’s recent move to expand service through the noon hour and into the evenings is long overdue. We hope it will lead to more expansions in the future.
The commission removed the lunch-hour disruption and added runs for an extra hour in the evenings March 5. Jason Babineau, the commission’s general manager, said the move was recommended in its new strategic plan – which was developed with public input on where more bus runs would work better.
Mr. Babineau also didn’t rule out potential further changes, such as revamping the commission’s website, unveiling new routes later this year after finalizing new stops and schedules, and possibly adding Sunday service and on-demand service outside regular operating hours.
The commission’s strategic plan, adopted last year, included recommendations for changing the bus network to allow more stops along two routes, exploring options for an electric bus fleet, improving collaboration between stakeholders, piloting green initiatives, offering on-demand transit, and using mobile apps.
These changes are a step in the right direction if the commission hopes to increase public transit use and expand service where demand warrants it. For years, citizens have called for more bus runs and coverage of city neighbourhoods that aren’t currently on a bus route, something Mr. Babineau said he hopes to address soon.
Increased ridership on the city’s buses would also help the environment, as fewer vehicles on the road would mean reduced greenhouse gas emissions. While Miramichi is a difficult city to navigate without a vehicle, adding bus stops in unserviced areas will help make the transit system more accessible.
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