INFORMATION RELEASE
October 22, 2020

Due to Juneau’s High risk level, Capital Transit adjusts capacity limits effective Friday

Due to the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center raising the overall community risk to Level 3 High, Capital Transit is implementing the following changes to capacity limits for the health of Juneau riders and operators:

• Capital Transit bus capacity is limited to nine (9) riders
• CAPITAL AKcess van capacity is limited to two (2) riders

With these capacity limits, riders should only use public transit for essential trips, such as:

• Healthcare appointments and pharmacy visits
• Grocery Shopping
• Employment

These changes go into effect Friday, October 23, Capital Transit and CAPITAL AKcess understand the inconvenience this may cause for many riders, but appreciate the community’s understanding and patience.

In addition, Capital Transit continues to ask riders to board and exit using the rear door, and to wear masks over the mouth and nose while boarding and riding Capital Transit or CAPITAL AKcess. Please maintain maximum social distancing while riding and waiting to board.

For more information, please contact Capital Transit at 789-6901. Learn more about COVID-19 in Juneau at juneau.org/covid-19.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
September 22, 2020

Changes to hospital area bus stops due to Hospital Drive construction

Capital Transit bus service in the hospital area will be intermittently disrupted due to continuing construction during the Hospital Drive Reconstruction Project. The following changes have been implemented:

• Bus stop at SEARHC’s Ethel Lund Medical Center has been temporarily closed.
• Bus stop at Bartlett Regional Hospital will be intermittently moved to the parking lot across from the Juneau Medical Center.
• Bus stop at the bottom of Hospital Drive will be temporarily moved farther up the hill next to the SEARHC Juneau Campus and across from the AEYC office building.

Signs will be posted at the bus stop alerting passengers when the stop has been moved or closed. For more information, call Capital Transit at 789-6901.

INFORMATION RELEASE
September 3, 2020

Capital Transit adds Express service between Downtown Transit Center & Mendenhall Mall

In an effort to provide better service during pandemic-related restrictions, Capital Transit is implementing route adjustments effective Tuesday, September 8 until further notice. Routes 5, 6, and 9 remain suspended and the additional service added to Routes 3 and 4 will be discontinued unless noted below.

SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS:

• Morning Commuter starting from UAS at 7:03 a.m. (Monday – Friday only): Service from UAS to Auke Bay and Nugget Mall, and all stops along Glacier Highway between the Nugget Mall and the Downtown Transit Center (DTC). No service to Lemon Creek Rd. or the Hospital Loop.
• Morning Commuter starting from Auke Bay at 7:10 a.m. (Monday – Friday only): Route 4 service to the Downtown Transit Center (DTC) starting at Auke Bay.
• Express service between the Downtown Transit Center and Mendenhall Mall, 7:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. (Monday – Friday only): This temporary route will provide express ervice to all bus stops along Glacier Highway between the Downtown Transit Center and Mendenhall Mall. The buses will display “EXPRESS” when traveling in both directions. No service to the Hospital loop, Lemon Creek Road, or Nugget Mall. For service around back loop, transfer at the Valley Restaurant stop to the Route 3 or Route 4. For service to Douglas, transfer at the Federal Building to the Route 1.

See the timetables of these service adjustments here.

For more information, call Capital Transit at 789-6901.

Capital Transit resumes regular service for most of Downtown routes Tuesday, Aug. 11.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
August 10, 2020

Capital Transit is resuming its regular inbound and outbound service for Routes 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 to the bus stops along Willoughby Avenue and Whittier Street in Downtown Juneau starting Tuesday, August 11. There will no longer be F Street transfers. All bus transfers will be made at the Federal building for Douglas and Valley service and on Whittier Street for Franklin Street service. The 5 and 6 buses are not in service at this time. (See the transit route map here)

For more information, call Capital Transit at 789-6901.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Thanks Transit Industry for Keeping America Moving

FTA has posted a video to thank the transit industry, particularly frontline workers, for their service during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In the two-minute video message, FTA Acting Administrator Williams thanks frontline transit workers for their many sacrifices, highlights the Administration’s response – including distributing more than 14 million protective face coverings and obligating over two-thirds of $25 billion in CARES Act funds – and looks ahead as the economy continues to re-open.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
June 8, 2020

Service Interruptions on Mendenhall Loop Road for Capital Transit

Capital Transit service on Mendenhall Loop Road is being disrupted by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities’ Loop Road Roundabouts Project. Starting Tuesday, June 9, until further notice, service will be discontinued to the Stephen Richards and El Camino bus stops. A private shuttle service will be provided by the construction project for passengers in the construction zone to access a temporary stop near McGinnis Drive. Service to the Haloff Street and Floyd Dryden stops will be intermittently discontinued. Passengers can also catch the bus outside the construction area at Cinema Drive, Mendenhall Boulevard, or Valley Boulevard.

For more information call Capital Transit at 789-6901.

INFORMATION RELEASE
June 5, 2020

Capital Transit increases passenger capacity starting Monday, June 8

The City and Borough of Juneau will be increasing passenger capacity limits on Capital Transit buses and CAPITAL AKcess vans starting Monday, June 8. The maximum capacity on Capital Transit buses will be 14 riders; the maximum capacity on CAPITAL AKcess vans will be 3 riders.

Capital Transit reminds riders of these other protocols:

• Wearing a face covering on Capital Transit buses and CAPITAL AKcess vans is required.
• Please limit rides to essential needs, like access to employment, groceries, health care, and medicine, and consider planning a trip during non-peak hours such as 9 a.m. to noon.
• Continue to use the rear door of Capital Transit as the main entrance and exit.

For more information, contact Capital Transit at 789-6901.

INFORMATION RELEASE
June 4, 2020

CBJ awarded $5 million to purchase electric buses

The City and Borough of Juneau will receive $5 million in federal grant funding to purchase new electric buses and associated charging infrastructure for Capital Transit. Through previous grant awards, CBJ’s first electric bus is scheduled to arrive in October. After that, seven more aging diesel buses are due to be replaced in 2022.

The $5 million is from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the Low- or No-Emission (Low-No) Grant Program, which provides funding for state and local governmental authorities to purchase or lease zero-emission and low-emission transit buses. CBJ is one of 41 projects in 40 states sharing $130 million in federal Low-No grant funding. CBJ has received other Low-No grant funding in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Juneau’s first electric bus, which will be from Proterra, will go into use as soon as it arrives. Capital Transit currently uses three electric cars as support vehicles, purchased through grant funding from the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities.

For more information, contact Capital Transit at 789-6901.

INFORMATION RELEASE
May 29, 2020

CBJ requires public to wear face coverings in libraries & public buses

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Juneau, the public is now required to wear cloth face coverings on Capital Transit buses, CAPITAL AKcess vans, and all three branches of the Juneau Public Libraries. This safety measure adheres to an emergency ordinance passed last night by the Juneau Assembly. Updates on additional CBJ facilities that will require the public to wear cloth face coverings are forthcoming.

The Juneau community has been able to flatten the curve by social distancing, hunkering down, and frequently washing hands. As the economy reopens, people need to take additional precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, like wearing a cloth face covering when you’re within six feet of a non-household member. Individuals who are infected with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic may unknowingly spread the disease. Your cloth face covering is meant to protect other people in case you’re infected; their face covering protects you.

CBJ will post signage when a cloth face covering is required in a CBJ facility and provide cloth face coverings to people who do not have one. The ordinance creates exemptions, for example, for children and for people with disabilities. If a person refuses to wear a cloth face covering and the person is not exempt, CBJ may deny the service or transit ride.

The ordinance does not apply to privately owned businesses or private property, but people are strongly encouraged to wear a cloth face covering when entering a business that is open to the public. The Assembly strongly urges the use of cloth face coverings or a physical barrier (i.e. Plexiglas separator) for businesses with employees that interact with the public, especially grocery stores, gas stations, and retail stores. Read the ordinance here.

As a reminder, Bartlett Regional Hospital’s universal masking policy has been in place since April 7 and will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Under the policy, visitors are required to bring a face covering and wear it at all times. Visitors not complying with the policy are not be allowed to enter the hospital.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
May 29, 2020

Capital Transit resumes service to Willoughby Avenue

The City and Borough of Juneau’s public bus system has resumed service to Willoughby Avenue. Riders can once again access Capital Transit service to the bus stops across from Centennial Hall and at the ANB Hall. The temporary stop across from the State Museum on Whittier Street will be discontinued (see the transit route map here).

If you have any questions please contact Capital Transit at 789-6901.