Transit ridership in P.E.I. hits record high as gas prices soar

May 19, 2022

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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Prince Edward Islanders are being requested to e-book forward in the event that they plan to make use of rural transit to commute between Summerside and Charlottetown.

That’s as a result of on Might 17, a mix of things meant some commuters had been almost left by the facet of the highway when the bus they deliberate to take to work in Summerside was full.

“Because it seems, with the rising worth of fuel it’s been the issue that’s turning individuals to take these extra reasonably priced technique of transportation, in order that sort of got here to a head there yesterday,” stated Alex Dalziel, rural transit lead for the province, in a telephone interview with SaltWire Community on Might 18.

Mike Cassidy, who owns T3 Transit, operates the ten rural routes by way of funding from the province.

“That’s the primary time that we’ve got ever been full-full since 2008,” stated Cassidy.

“It’s thrilling, however our primary purpose on this enterprise is customer support. We can’t go away individuals behind.” – Mike Cassidy

There have been 4 individuals left with no seat on the Hunter River cease, however they made it to work because of certainly one of them who had pushed to the bus cease. That particular person volunteered to take all of them of their car to Summerside.

“So, it’s the nice previous Island approach of taking care of all people,” stated Cassidy.

Whereas it’s actually an issue, it’s a welcome one for the brand new service, he stated.

To stop the identical subject from occurring on the 4:05 p.m. return journey to Charlottetown, T3 seemed on the reservations, realized the bus was full and provided round 10 individuals a seat on the next bus at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s thrilling, however our primary purpose on this enterprise is customer support. We can’t go away individuals behind,” stated Cassidy.

Mike Cassidy, owner of T3 Transit, said ridership numbers in Charlottetown also took a hit during the pandemic, but they are now returning to a near-normal state. He says as the pandemic ends and more people return to work, both Charlottetown and Stratford will see an increase in riders. - Cody McEachern/SaltWire Network File Photo — Mike Cassidy, proprietor of T3 Transit, stated ridership numbers in Charlottetown additionally took a success in the course of the pandemic, however they’re now returning to a near-normal state. He says because the pandemic ends and extra individuals return to work, each Charlottetown and Stratford will see a rise in riders. – Cody McEachern/SaltWire Community File Photograph

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Busy buses

T3 has all the time beneficial reserving a seat on the longer route, however the buses had been hardly ever full and the drivers tended to know who to anticipate on the route. So, individuals acquired away from reserving forward, stated Dalziel.

Nonetheless, demand spiked swiftly.

“This wasn’t an issue final week,” stated Cassidy.

A web-based reserving system is coming within the subsequent few weeks, stated Dalziel.

Within the meantime, T3 urges travellers to name or e mail forward to e-book a seat, particularly if they’re travelling on the 2 busiest routes: the 6:25 a.m. from Charlottetown to Summerside and the 4:05 p.m. from Summerside to Charlottetown.

Cassidy and Dalziel have already spent hours engaged on the difficulty and can watch the bus ridership intently for the remainder of the week. The 2 are able to make modifications to accommodate the elevated demand, which can imply including one other bus to the route and including a departure time or utilizing a bigger bus.

Alex Dalziel, the provinces lead for rural transportation, is working with the owner of T3 Transit to find a solution to the rising number of passengers on popular rural bus routes. Contributed photo. - Contributed — Alex Dalziel, the provinces lead for rural transportation, is working with the proprietor of T3 Transit to discover a resolution to the rising variety of passengers on common rural bus routes. Contributed picture. – Contributed

Depends on transit

Cassidy pointed to rising fuel costs and a return to the workplace for a lot of P.E.I. workers for the abundance of riders this week, however numbers have been growing steadily on all T3 transit buses, that are largely circulating in Charlottetown.

On the downtown Charlottetown switch cease, a lady was ready for the #1 bus uptown on Might 18. She doesn’t have a automobile and depends on transit to get round city. She additionally takes the bus dwelling to Summerside to go to her mother. The $2 fare now has her heading dwelling extra typically.

“I like that it’s Islandwide now,” stated the girl, who caught the bus earlier than SaltWire might get her full identify.

Long and Kelly gather their three children onto the bus to get groceries. - Alison Jenkins — Lengthy and Kelly collect their three youngsters onto the bus to get groceries. – Alison Jenkins

The COVID-19 pandemic damage ridership on transit attributable to public well being measures and suggestions to remain dwelling.

The bottom numbers had been in March, April and Might of 2020. Extra lately, ridership fell sharply in the course of the Omicron outbreak in November and December 2021 and January and February 2022.

“Since March, restrictions had been lessened, and as quickly as that occurred, you felt the change in – I believe – in our private lives and the enterprise world,” stated Cassidy.

Ridership in March and April exceeded the earlier peak in 2019.

“It’s good to see after two lengthy years of a pandemic.”

A pair who lives in Charlottetown with their three daughters, use the bus to get across the metropolis.

“We have to get to the grocery store, so we take the bus,” stated the daddy as he ushered his household to the bus.

Alison Jenkins is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. @AlisonEBC

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