Saskatoon Access Transit user 'shocked' over service reduction
Starting Thursday, riders looking to take Access Transit to get to their destinations will notice a shift in service over the next three weeks.
In a news release on Wednesday, Saskatoon Transit says the service will temporarily reduce service levels based on available resources.
It’s something Access Transit user Brittany Zuleta wasn’t prepared for as she uses it five days a week.
“I was shocked to hear the news, I’m like, 'why would they do that?'” she told CTV News.
Saskatoon Transit interim director Tracey Davis said the decision was made due to a short-term staffing shortage.
“Retirements, resignations that were naturally occurring anyways. We had a couple of folks who ended up injured unexpectedly,” Davis said.
Saskatoon Transit is hiring new drivers but says it will take time to get them trained.
It says booking an Access Transit bus will be challenging for last-minute spontaneous trips. Davis says Access Transit has roughly 1,800 active customers.
“The chances of getting that trip that they wanted might be reduced and they might experience those delays and might have to travel at an off-peak time,” Davis said.
Zuleta says “it isn’t fair” for people like her who depend on Access Transit to take them from point A to point B regularly.
“I don’t want to be having to pay for a cab or having my parents come get me because it’s not fair to them,” Zuleta said.
Sydney Risley is another Access Transit user and says she tries to use it as much as she can, as taxis are out of her budget and walking long distances is out of the question.
“My roommate, he even said to me, ever since taking Access Transit, I don’t come home as tired,” Risley said.
Saskatoon Transit is advising riders to continue booking trips three days in advance as early as 9 a.m. to avoid possible denials.
In a statement, Saskatoon Transit said Access Transit’s subscription service will not be affected by the decrease in service levels.
"In addition, Saskatoon Transit is actively using a number of third party transportation options to reduce the impact. Normally, there is a cap of how many third party transportation service rides are supplemented each day for customers when Access Transit is overbooked; however in order to reduce the impact on customers, this cap has been removed during this time of service level adjustment," the statement said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
DEVELOPING Israel targets air defence system in Syria, state news agency says
Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.