The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Laketran expanding Route 1 service
One of Laketran’s local bus routes, Route 1, beginning Aug. 17, will operate every 40 minutes instead of 60 minutes on weekdays.
As a result, the transit agency is adding a third bus to the route so customers can properly distance while riding in efforts to provide a safer space for everyone traveling.
Since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Laketran has been monitoring ridership levels and executing procedures to encourage social distancing on the 35-foot buses operating its local fixed routes.
“Last month, as ridership began to rebound after the stay-at-home order, Laketran implemented limited seating to maintain six feet between passengers and our drivers,” said Laketran CEO Ben Capelle. “But now, the limited seating is creating crowds of standees on board on Route 1.
“Our ridership always increases in September and October, compared to summer months, with people working more regularly and college resuming, so we want to make sure people can continually social distance while on board,” Capelle added. The additional bus will provide customers with 14 additional departures throughout the day, spreading out times when passengers can board the bus.
The agency also implemented rear-door boarding to distance passengers from the bus driver and has suspended fare collections through Sept. 30.
During the fare suspension, Laketran is installing devices on board its buses that validate mobile fare payment through the EZfare payment app.
“We’re trying to encourage less interaction with high touchpoints on the bus, like a fare box,” Capelle said. “Once we reinstate fares, we’ll encourage everyone to use our app so you can simply activate your fare on your phone and validate it as you board, similar to a mobile boarding pass for airline transportation.
“We realize not everyone has smartphones, but we hope those who do will use the EZfare app.”
Laketran is also constructing safety barriers between the bus drivers and customers to provide an additional level of protection and has installed onboard personal protective equipment stations with masks and hand sanitizer.