Belleville Transit buys new bus

By Harrison Perkins

BELLEVILLE (25/09/2012)Students exit a Belleville transit bus at the Loyalist Kente building on Wednesday. City transit is aiming for one million riders this year. Photo by Harrison Perkins.

Belleville Transit has replaced its entire fleet of buses over the past eight years.

On Monday afternoon, Bellville City Council approved the purchase of a new bus to replace an existing bus which dates from 1998.

With the new addition approved on Monday, comes the benefit of having one model for all 15 buses.

Belleville city councilor Jack Miller said transit is going through an operational review and there will probably be an overhaul of the mobility aspect of the system.

Matt Coffey, manager of Belleville transit, said no additional money was spent on the new bus.

“We’ve had money in the budget set aside; it will replace our Orion bus from 1998 that is due to be replaced” Coffey said.

The new bus was purchased for $465,000, below the $500,000 budgeted.

Coffey said ridership for transit is high and transit is aiming for one million riders for 2012.

Erin Sweet said she’s relatively happy with transit in the city.

“I think it’s pretty good, perhaps maybe another bus for Loyalist, they get pretty jammed packed in the morning” Sweet said

Miller said there are extra buses at key times for the Loyalist route.

“When Loyalist isn’t in, the number seven doesn’t carry as many people obviously but at the same time we have extra buses on the Loyalist route at the key times in the morning and in the afternoon, we run two and even sometimes three to carry the over flow” Miller said.

While Loyalist student Jaclyn VanExan agrees with Sweet when it comes to the amount of people riding on the buses at once, VanExan is happy with the service overall.

“It’s a nice way to get around” VanExan said, adding she takes the bus about twice a day and it’s her main mode of transportation while going to school.

Emily Burton also takes Belleville Transit to and from school. She said scheduling is her main concern.

“Sometimes it’s not on time and that can be problematic” Burton said.

In addition to scheduling, Burton echoed the thoughts of Sweet and VanExan when it comes to the amount of people, saying it is usually “busy” and “crowded.”