CALGARY- City transit buses aren’t faring much better than private vehicles as they struggle to complete their snow-covered routes.
Buses are getting stuck on off-ramps, hills and in snow drifts, causing big delays for transit users.
Transit tweeted most buses were running 45 to 90 minutes behind schedule.
It doubled its staff Tuesday to handle the chaos.
“Between 4 and 8 this morning I have dug out six buses already and there are nine of us out here, not including office staff,” supervisor Doug Greenough told Global News.
The snow also forced buses to make detours on a number of routes.
The good news is, Calgary Transit hopes the buses will be back on schedule Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Transit is moving ahead with a new GPS system for buses that could make delays more bearable. The system will provide passengers with up-to-the-minute information on bus locations and delays, so they at least know what to expect.
“When I see people standing at the bus stop and freezing and not knowing- that’s the worst part,” says transit director Doug Martin. “If they knew it was five to 20 minutes they could grab a coffee and at least have a little warmth before they catch the bus.”
The new system could be up and running by next winter.
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