All Transit Routes Restored, Warranty Repair Schedule for Transit Fleet Anticipated Mid-December

All City of Prince Albert transit routes are now in operation. Disruptions to the route schedules have been ongoing since April 2021 when the City’s transit fleet was taken off the road due to safety concerns following the discovery of cracks in the frames of the buses. Since the discovery, used buses have been obtained as a temporary measure to serve transit uses while the City pursues a warranty claim.

“I apologize to our transit users for the disruption in services that have occurred from time to time since April,” said Mayor Greg Dionne. “This temporary solution is not ideal but with a shortage of buses it was difficult to find replacement options.  We have left no stone unturned to find the buses we now have in place to service all of our routes.”

The temporary buses currently serving the public have had new heaters and security cameras installed. They also have been equipped with the City’s GPS trackers which allow riders to check on the location of their buses online.

“We are extremely disappointed to be in this position,” said Mayor Greg Dionne. “We purchased a fleet of buses from a company that serves major cities through the US and Canada. It’s an unfortunate position, but we are working through the process to get the buses repaired and back in service.”

The warranty claim was pursued immediately following the discovery. Independent engineering inspections were required to confirm the cause and the City has received confirmation from Vicinity Buses that a repair schedule will be brought forward for mid-December.

“With the repair schedule in hand, we will be in a better position to share a time frame for the buses to be back on the road.”

The replacement fleet will soon be bolstered by three transit buses on loan from Vicinity Bus while they are working on the plan to repair the main fleet.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Mayor Greg Dionne
(306) 953-4300