The City of Welland has announced more temporary changes to Welland Transit, starting Monday, April 13. The transit agency is setting up a transit reservation system to provide essential-only public transportation for Welland residents. The City will continue to operate Well-Trans accessibly service.

Here’s how the reservation model works:

• service is available Mondays to Fridays only from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
• you must make a reservation 24 hours before your trip by calling Welland Transit at 905-735-1700 x2291 (8 a.m. until 3 p.m.)
• this is not an on-demand same-day service.
• if you need a bus to pick you up, call Welland Transit and staff will reserve a bus to will pick you up the next day.
• trips are available only for:

• medical appointments;
• employment; and
• grocery store (one visit per week).

This service is free of charge.

Also, Welland Transit is suspending the Port Colborne Community service will until further notice after end of service Thursday, April 9.

Why is the City of Welland doing this?

• “go home and stay home” message remains key focus of public health;
• health and safety considerations of operators and passengers in light of public health directives to practice social distancing and avoid non-essential travel;
• ridership numbers have plummeted across region — down about 80 percent;
• no transit revenue;
• province-wide shutdown is likely to continue for several more weeks, so ridership will remain very low
• no passengers travelling to and from Niagara College, Brock University, and secondary schools — all are shut down.

Welland Transit first revised service to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting Friday, March 27.