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An ABQ Ride Sun Van Journal file
Faced with a shortage of drivers with commercial licenses to drive the big city buses, the Transit Department is substituting Sun Vans, with drivers who are not required to have a commercial license, for some less busy routes. Voila!
Problem solved for now, at least. But it’s an idea that might be of merit even after “normal” returns.
The pandemic has contributed to a shortage of drivers for regular established routes. But ridership across the city for both regular and Sun Van service is about half of what it was before the pandemic kept many people home except for critical trips. In an attempt to restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels, officials put their thinking caps on and decided that some Sun Van drivers could shift into driving routes that have low passenger usage. Sun Van service t