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VIA Blog

Posted: 8/12/2009

Another round of service changes is coming up August 24. This is the third time this year VIA has made revisions to its scheduled line services, and one more round will be done before the end of 2009.

So, why does VIA do so many service changes? The short answer is to adjust for changing conditions.

VIA has more than 90 routes in its system, and all of these routes run on schedules. Various factors such as traffic congestion, accidents, and weather events can cause sporadic delays, but overall conditions can also change over time and can affect the ability of certain routes to stay on schedule. Routings and schedules that worked fine in the past may not be feasible anymore due to changes in the infrastructure. Streets get widened or rebuilt over the years, and this causes changes in traffic patterns. Railroad tracks also get refurbished, which results in different at-grade crossings that can affect bus travel. And areas across the city grow with new neighborhoods and businesses, increasing demand for public transportation as traffic congestion grows.

All of these factors can work individually or in concert to alter the needs for transit services, and VIA must revise its routes and schedules to adjust for changes in ridership demand patterns and cost-effectiveness.

Such service changes are made four times a year, and they are scheduled to coincide with what VIA calls "sign-ups," dates that are set aside to allow VIA bus operators to request which routes they would prefer to drive. Operators get new assignments at sign-ups, so these times are ideal for the implementation of any service changes that are due.

The sign-ups and the service changes take place in March, May, August, and November, and they can range from small and simple revisions (such as minor adjustments of time points on a schedule) to significant changes like the elimination of an operating route or the start of a completely new route. When necessary, VIA will hold public hearings to share information on proposed route changes and to gather feedback before the changes are put into place.

VIA usually announces service changes two weeks in advance. These revisions are typically promoted through bus flyers, farebox cards, news releases, and updated pocket schedules. If you would like to get details on service changes as they are distributed, you can sign up for VIA's e-mail subscription list. You will then get an e-mail whenever VIA publishes information about agency developments, including when route changes are proposed.