Votran announces temporary service changes.

Written by Anthony Bicy

Belden Communications News

Votran has announced temporary service schedule changes to prevent service disruption, based on the agency experiencing challenges in maintaining pre-pandemic staffing levels. 

These service changes will not affect trips provided under the American with Disabilities Act programs.

According to a release, effective immediately, Votran’s call-ahead curb service has changed its service window, from one hour to ninety minutes for in-town trips and two hours to three for cross-county. Paratransit transportation disadvantaged service (Votran Gold) will be prioritized based on the purpose of the trip, with medical trips and riders with ADA needs receiving priority. Staff will prioritize these trips daily, based on the availability of personnel and the number of trips scheduled.

Beginning Saturday, January 8, fixed-route Saturday service will have sixty-minute intervals instead of thirty. This change affects routes 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 15, 20, and 60. 

During these temporary changes, Votran will make every effort possible to complete all transportation requests.

“Over the past year, transit agencies statewide have had to adjust service due to staffing shortages and hiring difficulties,” said Votran General Manager Kelvin Miller. “Votran is committed to providing safe, reliable service to customers, and we are working diligently to address these challenges and resume regular service as quickly as possible.”

Votran will begin offering a $1,000 employee hiring and retention bonuses to ensure service operation continues smoothly while actively recruiting additional staff.

Printed bus schedules may not reflect up-to-date operations while service adjustments are in effect. For real-time information, customers should visit Votran.org/take-a-trip.