Rev. David John Walkowiak, seated, takes part in his ordination and installation as the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Mich., on Tuesday at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. Walkowiak, an Ohio native, was most recently a priest at a parishCitilink riders should be prepared for numerous changes to bus routes as construction of the system’s new central station nears completion.
The transit system on Monday released proposed new maps affecting nearly all of its bus routes throughout Fort Wayne.
The changes were necessitated by the construction of the new station at Calhoun and Baker streets, according to Betsy Kachmar, assistant general manager.
Kachmar said because the new station is farther south than the current Superior Street location, routes had to be reconfigured to ensure all the buses arrive downtown at the same time to enable riders to transfer.
Citilink will have a series of public meetings next month to collect advice on the proposed changes.
She described the route updates as, “a lot of small changes,” but noted the changes might not seem small to riders used to having buses drive in front of their homes.
“That is why we are having the public meetings,” she said.
Many of the changes eliminate overlap of some bus routes.
For example Route 6 will no longer go to Glenbrook Square, leaving that destination for people riding Route 8. The changes are budget-neutral for the company, Kachmar said.
The new routes will take effect with the opening of the new central station, expected to happen in mid-September.
Depending on public comment about the proposed changes, Kachmar said Citilink’s board could vote to approve them in July.
If changes are needed, the board could approve them at a later meeting.
