CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Department of Public Works (DPW) announced that bus route services expanded in St. Thomas today.
Effective today, VITRAN will expand Routes 301 and 601 to include Perimeter Road, which borders the Schneider Regional Medical Center. This route will contain the following stops: Lockhart School, Raphael O. Wheatley Skills Center, Royal Palms Professional Building, Foothills Professional Building, Celestino A. White Senior Home (both buildings), across from the Daily News, and the Paragon Building through to the Schneider Regional Medical Center.
“This is the first time VITRAN is expanding its route in over a decade,” said Commissioner Nominee Derek Gabriel. “We are excited to have the opportunity to give our seniors greater access with this new route.”
The schedule is as follows:
· Route 301 traveling West, will leave the VITRAN Terminal at 7:10 a.m., 11:10 a.m. and 05:10 p.m. Traveling East, the bus will leave Tutu Park Mall at 8 a.m., noon and 6:20 p.m.
· Route 601 traveling West, will leave the VITRAN Terminal at 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Traveling East, the bus will leave Tutu Park Mall at 7:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. See attached maps for routes.
“I want to commend and thank Commissioner Nominee Gabriel for his rapid response to my request for VITRAN bus service to the Sugar Estate Senior Center. This addition to the VITRAN routes provides a necessary and vital service for our senior residents of the facility and gives them an easier way to maintain their connection to the community,” Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said. “In addition to enhancing one of our premier senior living facilities in the Virgin Islands, this simple complement to the VITRAN service on St. Thomas reinforces the commitment the Bryan-Roach Administration has for our senior population, one of the most vulnerable and most valuable in the Territory.”
As the department continues to re-evaluate VITRAN’s routes to ensure they provide the best possible services to the community, they would like to notify the public that effective immediately, VITRAN will no longer service the Tutu High Rise Housing Community, also known as “Ras Valley”. This area, which was serviced by Route 301, was eliminated due to the demolition of buildings in that community. VITRAN will continue to service all bus stops on the Donoe Bypass and in the Hometown area. The bus will continue en route to the Tutu Park Mall, Eastbound only. Passengers at the Four Winds Plaza may use other VITRAN buses to Tutu Park Mall or to town.
“Although VITRAN is closing the Tutu High Rise Community route, we will continue our efforts in future planning, and work to better accommodate our ridership” said Deputy Commissioner of Transportation Karole Ovesen-McGregor.
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