BY JIM LOCKWOOD
The County of Lackawanna Transit System will expand its fixed route service starting July 6, with a return to modified Saturday schedules running Mondays through Saturdays until further notice.
Demand-response trips will end July 6.
The changes come amid Lackawanna County on Friday going from the yellow to green phase, the least restrictive of the state’s three-phased plan for COVID-19 reopenings.
COLTS initially curtailed routes to Saturday schedules in March because of the pandemic. The agency later further reduced routes, but now will increase them back to the Saturday schedules.
“Now we’re going the opposite way,” toward full routes, COLTS Executive Director Bob Fiume said. “COLTS remains committed to keeping our passengers and employees safe and we will continue to take all necessary precautions to do so. For example, we continue diligent cleaning and sanitization of our vehicles daily.”
On July 1, COLTS will reopen the Lackawanna Transit Center on Lackawanna Avenue in Scranton and reinstate collection of fares and passes. COLTS temporarily stopped charging fares for the protection of the health of both riders and drivers, to eliminate any potential personal contact and reduce the potential for the spread of the virus.
COLTS then will close July 3 and July 4 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. COLTS does not run on Sundays.
The expanded fixed routes then will begin July 6.
COLTS continues to recommend the use of face masks or coverings when riding buses or vans.
For schedules and changes, see coltsbus.com.
Meanwhile, Martz buses will continue limitations that include a maximum of 27 passengers on a 56-seat bus, a company representative said. Martz requires passengers to wear masks, wash their hands and practice social distancing, according to a sandwich board posted outside the Lackawanna Transit Center in Scranton.
For information on Martz, see martztrailways.com.
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185