Kingston Transit improves bus service to KGH

Pretty soon, you’ll be seeing a lot more of the blue Kingston Transit express buses running on the streets around Kingston General Hospital. Starting May 4, Transit will add two new express routes to serve the hospital.

Building on the success of the first two express routes launched in 2013, the new 601 and 602 express routes will provide people living in the east end of the city a quick and direct route to KGH. The new routes will run between the neighbourhoods on the opposite side of the Cataraqui River and will arrive and depart KGH every 15 minutes on weekdays, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. It will offer 30-minute service on evenings and weekends.

“We’ve seen a large number of our staff begin using transit when the original express routes were launched two years ago. We hope these two new routes encourage even more people to begin riding the bus,” says Stephanie Abrams, Lead Recruitment Advisor in our People Services and Organizational Effectiveness Department. “We know many of our staff members have been looking forward to this expanded service for quite a while.”

Meanwhile, Kingston Transit has also agreed to expand the service of the original express routes that run from the west end of the city to KGH.

“Transit has been a great partner in this initiative. The express routes will now begin earlier in the morning and run later in the evening to help our staff who work around the clock,” says Abrams.

Now buses will begin running at 6:15 a.m. so that staff can arrive on time for a 7:00 a.m. shift. Buses will also be running later each day, making it more convenient for people who are starting or ending their shifts at 11:00 p.m.

KGH’s ongoing partnership with Kingston Transit is also making it a more attractive option for staff who want to sign-up for the discount Transpass program. With over 250 staff members already signed up for a Transpass, KGH’s special rate has dropped to $50 per-month compared to the normal adult monthly rate of $72 per-month.

“It’s a significant savings for our staff and actually a very good value when compared to what it would cost to rent a monthly parking spot near the hospital,” says Abrams.

To learn more about the Kingston Transit service, its new and revised routes and the Transpass program, visit their website at www.kingstontransit.ca