CORNWALL, Ontario – More than $1.3 million worth of new buses should be on the road in Cornwall by the middle of January.
On top of the two new Handi Transit buses that arrived in the Seaway City last autumn (both worth $190,000), a pair of full-sized conventional buses (clocking in at $466,000 apiece) were delivered over the Christmas break.
Transit manager Len Tapp said in an interview the Handi Transit machines have already been on the road for weeks, while the conventional buses will be road-ready by Jan. 15 or so.
The conventional buses, still a sparkling white from the Quebec manufacturer, must be lettered and have equipment installed before they can be filled with passengers.
In the meantime a pair of aging buses – one is a 1998, and the other began its career way back in 1985 – will be retired.
“They’re not in service right now, but they will be sold off,” said Tapp.
Before the new buses arrived Cornwall’s fleet had an average age of about 13 years, but with the new machines now ready for work that number has dropped to 10.
Other numbers are dropping too, though, at Cornwall Transit. Tapp said ridership dipped by about 2.4 per cent in 2015, over the previous year.
Tapp attributed the decrease to lower gas prices, which meant riders that would normally take the bus likely jumped in the car instead.
“That’s something that has been seen industry-wide,” said Tapp.
While specific numbers for 2015 haven’t been finalized, Tapp suggested about 810,000 people rode the bus, Handi Transit or otherwise, last year.
The new conventional buses that will hit the road can accommodate nearly 60 passengers, with space for 38 seats and about 20 spaces for standing.
