No fares for debut of Arcola Express service

Regina Transit is offering a week of free rides for people to try out the new Arcola Express bus route, which launches at the end of the month.

From April 30 to May 4, riders can try the #60-Arcola Express free of charge from several locations, including the Greens on Gardiner, the Creeks, Gardiner Heights, Gardiner Park, Windsor Park, Woodland Grove and the downtown core.

The route runs Monday to Friday during peak hours, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.

First announced in January 2017, the route is designed to get people from Regina’s southeast end to the downtown more quickly. To help make that happen, the city’s first priority bus lane and traffic signal was installed at the intersection of Arcola Avenue westbound and the Ring Road northbound exit in December.

The city estimates the route will save commuters 20 minutes of travel time from the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre — Regina’s east-end transit hub — to downtown. Three new buses were purchased for the new route.

The city is also making improvement to several existing bus routes: Route 12 will now service Windsor Park to complement the new Arcola Express route; Route 40 will have expanded service in Harbour Landing; Route 10 will have expanded service in Fairways West; and routes 7 and 9 will have expanded service in Tuxedo Park.

In total, $17.2 million has been invested in Regina’s Transit system in the last two years, which has gone toward replacing 26 transit and paratransit buses, making the system more accessible and inclusive with 48 new, larger bus shelters, external route announcements and braille signage.

The UPass program will also be expanded in 2018.

For route maps and more information visit Regina. ca/Transit, call the RideLine at 306-777-RIDE (7433) or visit TransitLive. com for real-time schedules.