GRTC updates bus destination signs and shifts four route schedules on Oct. 18

GRTC riders will see new destination signs on the front of buses starting Sunday, Oct. 18. The same day, the transit agency will shift the schedules for the 4A, 4B, 7A and 7B by several minutes.

GRTC says the schedule change is meant to improve efficiency and keep those routes from overlapping in the same bays at the Downtown Transfer Station. Updated timetables will be posted online before the change takes effect. As of Sept. 24, the new times had not been published.

What the new signs look like

GRTC says the redesign came out of rider feedback, with the goal of making the signs easier to read and understand. Each sign will be split into three parts: the route number, the direction of travel and the major corridors the route serves, listed in the order the bus reaches them. Routes are labeled as running either north-south or east-west.

Signs will rotate through no more than two screens as a bus approaches, down from three, and the route number and direction will stay visible the whole time. All text will be in uppercase letters so every sign looks the same across the fleet.

The practical change for riders is that you should be able to confirm you’re boarding the right bus at a glance, without waiting for a full cycle of scrolling text.

Holiday service on Oct. 12

Before the switch, GRTC will run a modified schedule on Monday, Oct. 12, for Indigenous Peoples Day. Buses will run on a weekday schedule with no express service. CARE Paratransit and LINK Microtransit will operate on their regular schedules, and the Lost & Found department will be closed.

GRTC is also hiring for several positions, including bus operator, microtransit operator and transit infrastructure manager. Openings are posted on the agency’s career center.

Questions about the changes can go to GRTC customer service at 804-358-4782. Updated schedules and a guide to reading the new signs are at ridegrtc.com.