Yellowknifers can ride around in new buses with some flashy modern features, the city said as it unveiled the vehicles on Tuesday.
The city and Transdev say the transit fleet now has eight accessible buses that can accommodate two wheelchair users each.
“We’re all pretty excited for the new accessible fleet that has arrived,” Mayor Rebecca Alty told reporters.
“I know the residents are really excited.”
Features of the new buses include a loading ramp, a button to tell drivers when someone using a wheelchair is requesting a stop, improved suspension, environmental emissions control and fare boxes.
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The new buses have dedicated heat for drivers and an upgraded barrier door. Eric Moore, a representative of bus operator Transdev, said those features will help to keep drivers warm and safe.
Alty said only four of the city’s previous buses were accessible. The new fleet includes an additional bus as a backup if a vehicle needs to be taken off the road for repairs or maintenance.
“Some of the issues we were facing in January hopefully will be a thing of the past, with routes being able to go all the time,” she said, referring to bus cancellations over the winter, which the city attributed to mechanical issues with its ageing prior fleet.
More changes coming
The city said additional bus features coming later this year include automated stop announcements, the ability to use swipe cards to pay fares, and automated passenger counts that riders can access on an app.
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The city said the Find My Bus real-time tracking feature will be out of service until the summer while upgraded tracking devices are installed in the new buses. A new app – Passio Go! – will then replace the existing one.
The Yellowknife Accessible Transit System is expected to get two new buses this summer.
The city also plans route improvements ahead of the next school year.
Alty said that will include a stop near École William McDonald Middle School and École Allain St-Cyr, more frequent buses in the mornings, and buses to Grace Lake and Kam Lake in the mornings and afternoons.
