Fredericton Transit debuts on-demand routes
Commuters in Lincoln, Silverwood areas on south side can choose bus-service times now
Public transit has many benefits, including accessibility to travel around the city and a reduced carbon footprint, but transit users are generally beholden to bus-route schedules.
But such isn’t the case so much any more for a couple of outlying routes in Fredericton.
The City of Fredericton announced new on-demand transit service for two Fredericton Transit routes: 18 and 20, serving the Silverwood and Lincoln areas, respectively.
“The introduction of on-demand service will increase flexibility and efficiency within our transit system,” Coun. Bruce Grandy, chairman of the city’s mobility committee, said in a news release Thursday.
“This allows us to better use our resources while still ensuring access to public transit for those who rely on it.”
The reason these two southside routes were chosen for the on-demand service, the city said, was because they serve outlying areas that see lower ridership numbers.
Instead of running a set schedule for those areas and moving near-empty buses around the city, the on-demand option will make more efficient use of resources while giving riders greater flexibility, the release said.
The routes had been under consideration for elimination in recent years, prompting a pushback from the public.
“This transition to on-demand service reflects feedback received from the 2024 public engagement sessions and aligns with recommendations from the city’s transit strategic plan,” the release said.
“It also supports the city’s long-term goals of delivering modern and sustainable public transportation, in line with industry best practices for transit in low-demand areas.”
The city said among the features of the altered service are the ability to book a trip the same day or as much as seven days in advance, the fact that the route is no longer fixed and comes to the rider as requested, the maintenance of the same fares and payment methods, and the continued availability of transfers.
Riders using Routes 18 and 20 can request a trip using the Fredericton Transit app (available on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store) or by calling 506-460-2212.
Pick-up and drop-off points will remain at the existing bus stops along those two routes, and on-demand service will operate Monday to Friday, from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. and from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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