Dial-A-Ride has taken a huge hit

ALPENA, Mich – Dial–A–Ride , a complimentary curb-to-curb service offered through the Thunder Bay Transportation Authority has taken a huge hit but unlike other businesses, funding is not the issue.

Since the stay home, stay safe order you may have noticed less of these red shuttle buses on the street.

This is because the ridership for Dial-a-Ride, consisting of mostly seniors, declined last month from approximately 8,000 to 1,000.

General Manager, Andrew Sundin, said the decline comes from many factors such as facilities where many of the patrons frequent being closed.

Sundin is optimistic about business picking back up but understands that they will meet their challenges.

He also stated that as demand increases, they will add more drivers and expand hours.

Sundin wants riders to know that each bus is sanitized every day and the driver designates seating to keep the six–foot distance.