COVID-19 UPDATE #10 (November 10, 2020)
We hope you are doing well during these unprecedented times.
The situation in which we have been confronted since the start of the pandemic makes it very difficult to manage and ensure the continuity of Russell Transpo service. At the Council meeting to be held on December 7, the Economic Development Department will present a report offering the different scenarios for the future of this municipal service. Although we want to continue to provide this service to residents, several elements related to COVID-19 remain unknown, making it difficult to predict the level of service and demand in the months or even years to come. At the 2021 Budget sessions, it was agreed in principle that the Russell Transpo service will be stopped for a period of one year starting January 1, 2021. At the Council meeting on December 7, Council will address the future of the service.
If you would like to attend the Council Meeting by electronic participation on December 7, a link to the live event will be posted prior to the meeting on the Council & Meetings webpage.
Please note that the bus will be operating this Wednesday, November 11 during Remembrance Day.
COVID-19 UPDATE #9 (August 21, 2020)
We are happy to announce that Russell Transpo will start to circulate again starting Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Our level of service has been reduced to one coach bus (click here to view the schedule). Physical markers will be used between seats, allowing only 17 passengers. To ensure social distancing, we will increase the level of service by adding another bus when we reach 90% of the reduced bus capacity (15 passengers).
If you anticipate using Russell Transpo between September 8, 2020 and September 30, 2020, please complete this Doodle Poll by August 31 and include the following information:
- Full Name, phone number and email (for COVID-19 tracking list)
- Add a check mark to the days you anticipate using Russell Transpo
* With the results of the Doodle Poll, we will be able to determine the level of service.
Measures put in place:
The safety of our drivers and passengers remains a priority during this pandemic. As per the recommendations from the Ministry of Health and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, we developed a guide and have put in place the following measures in our buses:
- The use of face coverings is mandatory (some exemptions apply, visit eohu.ca);
- Physical distancing of at least two metres by admitting fewer passengers and using physical markers between seats;
- Ensuring the availability of alcohol-based hand rub upon entering the bus;
- Enhanced cleaning, particularly of high-touch surfaces; and
- Health screening and daily ridership registry conducted by drivers.
Passenger responsibilities:
- Do not use public transit if:
- You have a fever and/or new onset of cough or difficulty breathing;
- You have travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days; or
- You have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19.
- For the health and safety of our operators and passengers, and to keep our service running, customers are asked to do the following in transit shelters and buses:
- Wear a face covering such as a non-medical mask, bandana, scarf or cloth and make sure the face covering fits well around your nose and mouth;
- Upon entering the bus, disinfect your hands;
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or into your arm, not your hand;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and
- When possible, practice physical distancing (ideally 2 metres).
Points of Sale and Fare Options:
Starting September 1, the monthly passes and 10-ticket booklets will be available for purchase at the following locations:
• PharmaChoice - Russell Pharmacy (110 Craig, Russell)
• Shoppers Drug Mart (703 Notre-Dame, Embrun)
• Town Hall (717 Notre-Dame, Embrun) - Starting September 8
Due to COVID-19, our drivers will now be accepting any unused tickets from the 2019 10-ticket booklet.
For the health and safety of our drivers, cash fares will also be accepted in the bus only if the exact change ($15 per ride) is shown to the driver upon entering the bus and that the change is deposited by the passenger in the cash fare box.
We ask for your full collaboration to ensure safety of all and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
COVID-19 UPDATE #8 (June 11, 2020)
Following the Ontario government’s announcement to ease restrictions and open more businesses and services in the coming days, we’d like to know your current need for public transit. Please complete this 2-minute survey by clicking here. The survey will be available until June 18, 2020.
The date to reinstate the Russell Transpo service is still undetermined. However, we are currently working on a guide for safely managing the return of public transportation.
COVID-19 UPDATE #7 (June 1, 2020)
At the very beginning of the pandemic, we had extended the expiry date of the 10-ticket booklet to May 31, 2020. Since the service has not restarted, we ask that you keep the tickets you have left and when the service will return we will inform you how to exchange for new 2020 tickets.
Also, we wish to inform you that we still do not have a date when Russell Transpo service will be reinstated. We continue to assess the situation daily while observing the various provincial and federal announcements. We will be in touch with you as soon as we have a better idea of the return of Russell Transpo.
COVID-19 UPDATE #6 (April 27, 2020)
Due to the fact that the number of passengers has dropped considerably, starting this Friday, May 1, 2020, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend the Russell Transpo service. Once the Ontario state of emergency is over or when we have confirmation of the reopening of government offices and / or non-essential businesses, the administration will reinstate the service. Rest assured that our team will reassess the situation daily to reestablish Russell Transpo as soon as we can.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate your continued cooperation during this difficult time.
COVID-19 UPDATE #5 (April 3, 2020)
Thank you for completing the survey in such large numbers. After analyzing the results, we would like to inform you of the following changes to the Russell Transpo service:
- Starting April 6 and until further notice, our public transit service will be reduced to one bus. Only the following buses will be running:
- On Good Friday and Easter Monday, we will not be offering any service.
- In the bus, please follow the assigned seating plan to ensure social distancing. You’ll notice there’s an X in every second row. Please sit where there is no X on the seat.
Thank you for your continued collaboration during this period.
COVID-19 UPDATE #4 (March 27, 2020)
Given the evolution of COVID-19, our public transit service will continue to be reduced to two buses until April 3, 2020. Like right now, only the following buses will be running:
By March 31, please complete this 2-minute survey by clicking here, so that we can know the approximate number of passengers who will use the service during the month of April. With the results we receive, we will be able to modify our level of service in order to ensure everyone's safety and adequately follow social distancing. We know it is difficult to predict our next moves due to the present circumstances but please answer the survey as best as you can.
Please note that there will be no public transit service on Friday, April 10 (Good Friday). In addition, our service will be reduced to two buses on Monday, April 13. During that day, only the following buses will be running:
- AM: Options 2 and 3
- PM: Options 1 and 2
COVID-19 UPDATE #3 (March 23, 2020)
After evaluating various options to accommodate you during the month of April, we wish to inform you that the service will be free to all passengers who purchased a monthly pass for the month of March. Consequently, for passengers who have the monthly pass for March, please keep it and present it to your driver when you use the public transportation service in April. This decision was made to honour the service for which you paid for in March and ultimately limit the number of people in our merchant stores.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of the level of service that will be offered in April, people who have not purchased a monthly pass in March, and who wish to purchase one for the month of April, please send us an email at russelltranspo@russell.ca and we will accommodate you as best as we can.
For passengers who use the service on an irregular basis, booklets of 10 tickets are available in stores. As usual, a ticket will be required for each boarding.
Once again, thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time.
COVID-19 UPDATE #2 (March 18, 2020)
Your health and safety as well as those of our drivers are of great importance during this challenging time. As the Township of Russell continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional precautions are being taken on Russell Transpo buses.
- Starting this Friday, March 20, until March 31, 2020 (with the possibility of extension), our public transportation service will be reduced to two buses. Only the following buses will be running:
- The seats directly behind transit operators will no longer be accessible. This practice will ensure transit riders exercise safe social distancing.
- No refunds will be issued for the month of March since the service is still ongoing. However, given the circumstances, we are currently evaluating options to accommodate you during the month of April.
We understand that this situation is out of the ordinary and please know that we continue to follow the situation closely in order to guide us in our decision-making.
COVID-19 UPDATE #1 (March 16, 2020)
We wish to advise you that Russell Transpo will
continue to operate while undertaking additional measures to sanitize buses.
Please note that this situation and our procedures can change quickly and
further updates will follow as needed.
Also, we have extended the expiration date of the 10-ticket yellow booklets to
May 31, 2020, to avoid doing business in person at Town hall during the
COVID-19 outbreak.
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If you want to start using Russell Transpo, click here to know the next steps.