Author: tk-admin

The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority is excited to announce the expansion of the Transit CNMI Blue Line 1B fixed route service will now include Northern Marianas College through some parts of As Lito and Dan Dan on the island of Saipan. Scheduled to commence sometime this April.

With this expansion, NMC students will have expanded options for transportation to and from the As Terlaje campus, fostering greater convenience and opportunities for educational pursuits.

Whether commuting for classes, activities, or other engagements, riders can now rely on the Transit CNMI Blue Line 1B to facilitate their journeys efficiently and affordably priced at just $0.50 per ride upon presentation of a valid student ID. All riders are able to get the daily arrival/departure schedules by scanning the QR code that is placed at each bus stop or they can simply contact COTA’s One-Call/One-Click Transportation Information Resource Center at (670) 236-2682 for further information regarding the arrival/departure schedules.

Furthermore, the expansion of routes benefits not only students but also the general public.

The Blue Line 1B now covers various amenities such as coffee shops, grocery stores, gym facilities, places of worship, social assistance programs, and more, providing convenient access to essential services for all.

“Enhanced services to NMC allow our residents to access affordable transportation options as they pursue their educational goals and objectives,” said Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.

“The inclusion of NMC in the new route is part of this Administration’s efforts to aggressively expand and build upon COTA’s services to offer safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions to meet our islands’ needs,” said Lt. Gov. David I. Apatang.

“Around April of this year, our goal is to launch Transit CNMI Blue Line 1A which will run from the NMC through Middle Road, up around the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. facility, around the Garapan district then back to NMC,” said Alfreda Camacho Maratita, special assistant for Public Transportation for the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority.

Daily service runs from 6:30am to 8:30pm ChST offering a reliable transportation option for residents throughout the day. Each trip on the Blue Line 1B is priced at $1. Discounted fares are priced at $0.50 for students, veterans, active military and their families, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. Day passes are also available for $5 per day to the general public, or a discounted rate of $2.50 per day for students, veterans, active duty military and their families, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities.

Passengers can pay on the bus with cash (exact change only) or obtain bus passes from 7:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday at COTA’s Administrative Building and Maintenance Facility located at 12841 Lower Base Dr. Saipan, CNMI.

“We would like to thank the community for their continued support and understanding as we continue to do our very best to launch more routes on the island of Saipan for everyone to enjoy,” added Maratita.

To stay updated on the latest developments regarding the expansion of COTA’s fixed bus route, fares, times, and list of stops, we encourage everyone to follow our social media channels @transitcnmi and visit our website transit.cnmi.gov.

https://www.saipantribune.com/news/local/cota-expands-transit-cnmi-blue-line-1b/article_a10ab80c-f0c7-11ee-8d03-3f1c3e9c466e.html

📹Video Credit: @kuamcnmi

At Transit CNMI, our goal is to connect our community through public transportation. The Fixed Route Blue Line-1B serves through Route 33 (Beach Road) from Garapan to Tottotville (Northbound and Southbound). Since the launch on November 24, 2023, we have provided a total of 5,337 rides, bringing our community closer to their destination.

This soft launch has highlighted the need for public transportation in the CNMI. Our team has plans to add additional routes for our riders and provide better solutions for accessing up-to-date bus route information online. We appreciate the community’s patience as we work to improve and expand our services.

A heartfelt thank you to the hardworking staff at Transit CNMI and to our community for trusting us with your daily commute.

#TransitCNMI#PublicTransportation#TransitSystem#Saipan

(Office of the Governor) — After making history with the launch of the CNMI’s first-ever dual-directional bus route, the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority is thrilled to announce the success of the federally funded Transit CNMI’s Blue Line bus route in its inaugural month of operations.

From Nov. 24, to Dec. 31, 2023, a total of 5,337 riders embraced the convenience and accessibility of Transit CNMI’s Blue Line 1B, surpassing expectations and underlining the community’s enthusiasm for reliable public transportation.

Special Assistant for Public Transportation Alfreda Camacho-Maratita said the significant passenger numbers in the first month of service are indicative of the ongoing need for public transportation.

“In just a handful of weeks, our passengers have shown us how much they appreciate Transit CNMI’s service,” Camacho-Maratita said. “The Blue Line 1B is just the start of what we’ve designed to answer the demands of our increasingly mobile community.”

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios congratulated COTA for a successful launch of Transit CNMI’s newest bus route.

“The very positive response underscores the pressing need for reliable public transportation,” Governor Palacios said. “I commend the vision and dedication of everyone involved, and I look forward to further advancements in meeting the evolving mobility needs of our community.”

Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang said he is pleased with the high number of passengers on the Blue Line 1B.

“I commend COTA and its  dedicated team for their hard work and vision in bringing this service to fruition,” Lt. Governor Apatang said. “The success of the Blue Line 1B reflects our commitment to enhancing the lives of our residents through reliable and efficient transit options.”

Transit CNMI’s Blue Line 1B has two buses traveling simultaneously, one northbound and one southbound, with stops in key locations from Garapan to Koblerville.

Fare structure

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, each trip on the Blue Line will be priced at $1. In addition, Transit CNMI offers discounted rates of 50 cents for students, veterans, active-duty military, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. Day passes are also available for $5 per day to the general public, or a discounted rate of $2.50 per day for students, veterans, active-duty military, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities.

Passengers can pay on the bus with cash (exact change only) or obtain bus passes from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at COTA’s administrative offices e located on the 4th Floor of the Marianas Business Plaza in Suite 410.

For more information about Transit CNMI, including rates, times, and the list of stops,  visit transit.cnmi.gov or contact (670) 236-2682.

AHEAD of a scheduled Nov. 24 official launch, Transit CNMI arranged for a media ride on Nov. 17, Friday to demonstrate how Saipan’s latest mass transit system will operate when it opens to the public.

Headed north, the bus route began in Koblerville, across from Tottotville Estates and traveled through San Antonio, Chalan Piao, Chalan Kanoa, Susupe, Oleai, Quartermaster and Garapan. 

Major northbound stops included the Koblerville basketball court, the NMI Soccer Training Center, Pakpak Beach, the Pacific Islands Club, Hopwood Middle School, Mount Carmel Cathedral, Joeten Susupe, the Saipan Mayor’s Office, Hardt Eye Clinic, Marianas Eye Institute, Kristo Rai Church, T-Galleria, I Love Saipan, Crowne Plaza, and the terminal stop at American Memorial Park. In total, the northbound route had 33 stops. 

From American Memorial Park, the Blue Line 1B route headed to Paseo De Marianas, Hotel Street, Crowne Plaza Resort, Joeten Garapan, Garapan Fishing Base, the TSL Plaza and back to the Tottotville Estates. In total, there were 31 southbound stops. 

For a full list of stops on the Blue Line 1B route, visit transit.cnmi.gov/.

Special Assistant for Transportation Alfreda Camacho Maratita said the new mass transit line was drawn up after assessing Route 1A, which used to begin at Northern Marianas College. 

Route 1A was a “pilot program” for Transit CNMI that was postponed in 2019.  

Maratita said Transit CNMI realized the route that would become 1B would have “more traction” and so they decided to launch it as the first bus route for the general public.

The bus route begins at 6:30 a.m. and concludes at 8:30 p.m.

A northbound bus and a southbound bus will run at the same time, picking up and dropping off passengers. 

Maratita said one bus will be on standby as two other buses work the route.

Each bus can accommodate up to 20 people at a time, and is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. All buses feature a lift to accommodate passengers in wheelchairs. 

Two wheelchairs can be accommodated inside the bus. If a third passenger with a wheelchair requires bus service, the bus driver will contact an alternate bus to pick up the passenger. 

Additionally, a bike rack at the front of the bus can accommodate two bicycles.

Passengers must be seated and buckled up, Maratita said. Current law must be amended to allow riders to stand and hold onto the rails inside the bus, she added.

She said the biggest challenge at this time is the construction taking place on Beach Road. She expects delays to occur at peak traffic hours as some sections of Beach Road are closed.

However, she said, for the rest of the year, there is no charge to ride the route so community members can familiarize themselves with the way the bus operates, and bus drivers can monitor the needs of mass transit clients.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, rides will cost $1 for the general public, and 50 cents for veterans and their families, people with disabilities, and students.

Maratita said the transit line can be a low-cost “blessing” for community members who need to transit, but do not have access to a car or do not want to ride a taxi.

“Everyone that needs to get to and from their doctor’s appointments, their school, places of leisure, grocery shopping…just everything and anything that you want to enjoy on the island of Saipan — we’re basically here to connect our people,” Maratita said.

Transit CNMI is funded by the Bus and Bus Facilities Program of the Federal Transit Administration.

View full article: https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/transit-cnmi-to-launch-bus-route-on-nov-24/article_cf79ccc4-86c2-11ee-b7df-e373d3b3b2e9.html