03/18/2026
Post Description: Share of Mayor Donna Noade Reardon's post about SJ Accessible Transit. We are happy to have our transportation committee included in many of these discussions and decisions. Thank you to SJ Council and Transit for their collaboration!
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Original Post Caption:
🚍 A Big Win for Saint John — Transforming Transit
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The Goal
- The Transforming Transit project began in 2022 following a Stantec Operational Audit, with a focus on improving sustainability, increasing service levels, attracting more riders, and aligning with industry standards. This work supports ActSJ: Pathway to Net Zero and aligns with MoveSJ, our city’s transportation plan.
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About Saint John Transit
- Saint John Transit serves over 78,000 residents across 316.3 sq. km, delivering more than 2 million passenger trips over 2 million kilometres each year, that’s over 100,000 service hours.
- The system includes over 40 conventional buses, 7 electric buses, and 6 specialized vehicles for Accessible Transit, serving 18 fixed routes and 3 on-demand FLEX zones.
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Implementation (Since 2022)
- This transformation included the introduction of six 20-foot Karsan electric buses, new on-demand software, charging infrastructure, staff training, updated routes and zones, and strong public communication.
- A key feature has been the introduction of FLEX on-demand service, a flexible transit option that operates within zones instead of fixed routes. Riders can book trips up to a week in advance through an app or by calling 506-652-3539, with service connecting to mainline routes. The cost is the same as regular transit fares.
- Three FLEX zones were introduced, each connected to mainline routes, with two buses assigned per zone.
🕒 Monday–Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
🕒 Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Route and scheduling updates were also made across 13 fixed routes as these zones were implemented.
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The Results
- Longer service hours and increased frequency
- Average wait times of just 9 minutes, well below our 30-minute target
- Significant cost savings: electric buses cost just $6–$13 to charge overnight for 200–220 km, compared to approximately $225 in fuel for a diesel bus
- About 80% of riders are booking through the app
- Ridership has increased significantly, with some areas seeing numbers double or triple
- Data from the FLEX app is helping improve future route planning
This is what progress looks like, practical, innovative solutions that improve service, reduce costs, and support a more sustainable future.
Let's keep transitioning Saint John into the connected city we want it to be. Powerful!
(Photo credit: Tim Herd/Acadia Broadcasting)
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Image Description:
A photo shows a small Saint John Transit shuttle-style vehicle parked on a wet, empty lot on a rainy, overcast day. The vehicle is white at the front, with bold black, yellow, purple, green, and pink graphic panels along the sides. Large text on the side reads, “Transforming Transit / Transformation de Transit.” Other visible branding includes “Saint John,” “Saint John Transit,” “Saint John Energy,” “Damera,” and “wood.” There is also a circular logo near the back wheel.
The vehicle is angled slightly toward the camera, showing the front and passenger side. Its windshield is streaked with rain, and the pavement around it is dark and shiny from the weather. In the background, there is an industrial waterfront setting with large shipping cranes visible on the far left and a long bridge stretching across the right side of the image. The sky is grey and heavy with rain clouds, giving the whole scene a stormy, subdued look.
🚍 A Big Win for Saint John — Transforming Transit
___
The Goal
- The Transforming Transit project began in 2022 following a Stantec Operational Audit, with a focus on improving sustainability, increasing service levels, attracting more riders, and aligning with industry standards. This work supports ActSJ: Pathway to Net Zero and aligns with MoveSJ, our city’s transportation plan.
___
About Saint John Transit
- Saint John Transit serves over 78,000 residents across 316.3 sq. km, delivering more than 2 million passenger trips over 2 million kilometres each year, that’s over 100,000 service hours.
- The system includes over 40 conventional buses, 7 electric buses, and 6 specialized vehicles for Accessible Transit, serving 18 fixed routes and 3 on-demand FLEX zones.
___
Implementation (Since 2022)
- This transformation included the introduction of six 20-foot Karsan electric buses, new on-demand software, charging infrastructure, staff training, updated routes and zones, and strong public communication.
- A key feature has been the introduction of FLEX on-demand service, a flexible transit option that operates within zones instead of fixed routes. Riders can book trips up to a week in advance through an app or by calling 506-652-3539, with service connecting to mainline routes. The cost is the same as regular transit fares.
- Three FLEX zones were introduced, each connected to mainline routes, with two buses assigned per zone.
🕒 Monday–Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
🕒 Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Route and scheduling updates were also made across 13 fixed routes as these zones were implemented.
___
The Results
- Longer service hours and increased frequency
- Average wait times of just 9 minutes, well below our 30-minute target
- Significant cost savings: electric buses cost just $6–$13 to charge overnight for 200–220 km, compared to approximately $225 in fuel for a diesel bus
- About 80% of riders are booking through the app
- Ridership has increased significantly, with some areas seeing numbers double or triple
- Data from the FLEX app is helping improve future route planning
This is what progress looks like, practical, innovative solutions that improve service, reduce costs, and support a more sustainable future.
Let's keep transitioning Saint John into the connected city we want it to be. Powerful!
(Photo credit: Tim Herd/Acadia Broadcasting)
