WASHINGTON — Metrobus will return to full service beginning Feb. 7, nearly a month after suspending dozens of routes due to staffing shortages.
Metrobus has been operating on a modified Saturday schedule, offering about 75% of normal weekday service, since Jan. 10 due to COVID-related staffing issues.
"It has been really really hard compared to what it was like before," bus commuter Brittanie Coates said. "I have to leave an hour or two earlier than I normally would. It's really cold out here, and especially days like today where the buses run every hour, it’s a nuisance honestly."
Metro officials said in a press release that while absenteeism is still above-average, case rates are declining and employees are returning to work.
“I want to thank our customers for their patience as we took swift action to protect the health and safety of riders and employees in the face of the unprecedented COVID surge, which has impacted about 10 percent of our workforce since the holidays,” said CEO/GM Paul J. Wiedefeld in a statement.
However, Coates told WUSA9 that in her experience, buses continue to not show up, with no cancellation notice from Metro. She worries it could begin to impact her security job.
"It kind of makes me seem unreliable," she said. "I'm very reliable and I like to be on time, but because of the buses, it affects my ability to be to certain sites on time"
Metro officials say they are working to identify exact staffing levels at each bus division to schedule shifts and re-mobilize the bus fleet.