Kingston Transit Moves to Reduced Service, Adds Dedicated Hospital Shuttle

Published on: 2020/03/24 - in News

Kingston Transit reported today it will begin operating on a reduced Sunday service schedule seven days per week starting Thursday, March 26.


UPDATE: New policy issued and in effect beginning March 28:

Kingston Transit will be limiting total bus capacity to 12 to 15 passengers, depending on the bus model. This decision aligns with the City of Kingston’s declaration of a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective March 28, 2020, every other bus seat will be unavailable to enable passengers to practice safe physical-distancing. Seats will be marked as unavailable. The limit on the number of passengers will continue until further notice.

Kingston Transit will make every effort to deploy additional buses when capacity has been reached, but unfortunately this will not always be possible. Passengers should be prepared to wait for the next scheduled bus, should capacity be reached.

To ensure seats remain available to those who truly need them, we ask riders to use Kingston Transit for essential trips only. Capacity will remain limited and further changes are possible.


All routes will operate on a Sunday schedule except for the following:

  • All express routes will be reduced to 60-minute service frequency and will operate from approximately 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Route 7 will be reduced to 60-minute service frequency and will operate from approximately 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Routes 1 and 15 will reduce service to operate from approximately 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Routes 17, 18, and 18Q will be suspended.

These changes have been made due to declining in ridership, with some routes down as much as 80 per cent, and to further protect bus operators and passengers. Riders are asked to only use Kingston Transit for essential trips at this time.

A dedicated shuttle bus is also being added to support healthcare workers in our community who continue to commute to work, offering direct service from the Centre 70 Park & Ride to Kingston General Hospital from 6am to 8pm seven days a week.

The new schedule will continue until further notice. Kingston Transit notes that additional service changes may occur and passengers should continue to monitor its website and social media for updates.

Stay up-to-date with the City’s COVID-19 Precautions page and find answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 on the KFL&A Public Health’s site.


Photo: Wikimedia Commons (cc)