Cache Valley Transit District board members have decided to reduce bus service and place several drivers on administrative leave.
Beginning Monday, April 6, CVTD will limit the number of routes to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to Todd Beutler, CEO of the Cache Valley Transit District.
The decision was made to comply with state and Bear River Health Department directives for residents to stay home. Beutler said the number of riders using public transportation is down and board members felt this would be a good time to protect at-risk employees.
“Suggesting that we have this age group over 60 stay at home,” Beutler said. “We have a fair amount of employees that are in that category.”
CVTD employs 17 workers over the age of 60 who will been placed on paid administrative leave until state and county health officials announce that it is safe for them to return.
“That impacted our ability to provide the full services,” He said. “All the communities still have the core service, essentially.”
The change means Routes 3, 8, 12 and 14 will be suspended and the 15 minute frequency on the LOOP Route will be suspended. Routes 1 and 10 will operate hourly, with Route 1 departing the transit center at the top of the hour and Route 10 departing the transit center at the bottom of the hour.
All Routes, with the exception of the LOOP, will be suspended on Saturday’s beginning April 11. The LOOP will operate on a 25 to 30 minute frequency from 9:45 am to 6:45 pm.
“We still are cleaning the buses daily and providing disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer for our employees to make sure they are safe so that the people that do rely on the bus for essential travel can still make those necessary trips.”
These changes will not affect the Saturday, April 4, CVDT schedule. Weekday schedule changes don’t take effect until next Monday.