The bus riders who lamented the removal of the Wood Center as a stop can breath a sigh of relief.

Starting Nov. 1, the borough's blue and red bus routes will resume making stops at the Wood Center. The stop was discontinued last year due to the new intersection at Geist and Fairbanks Street.

"Our focus with these changes is to improve service to existing riders and to position ourselves for expanding service for new riders when we receive our new bus fleet in May," said David Leone, public transportation director for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

The changes are in response to an online survey the borough conducted and to several public hearing held in the last year.

"The change that was requested the most was to add a route to Farmers' Loop," said Leone. "Every month we held public advisory meetings, which helped us come up with a new route design."

One of those meetings was held last year in the Wood Center.

The meeting was well-attended, and was influential in the reinstating of the Wood Center route.

"We are also adding a stop at the West Ridge," Leone said. "The red and blue lines will service the university, and will also include the Johansen retail area."

The red and blue lines will be running on a similar route, but in opposite directions.

This will reduce waiting time in case people miss their buses.

"Running a similar line reduces the time someone has to stand in the cold," Leone said. "We will also be running additional buses on the red and blue line during peak hours, from 8-9:30 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m."

Other factors were included in the new bus routes.

"We found that people were willing to ride up to an extra twenty minutes if the line brought then a couple blocks closer to their destination," said Leone. "We added a stop at the Fairbanks Community Behavioral Health Center and Farmers' Loop with this in mind."

No one group is projected to be negatively impacted by these changes, but adjustments might need to be made.

"We plan on asking for feedback after the first six weeks," Leone said. "We are anticipating an adjustment period, for the riders and drivers to become familiar with the changes."

Rachel Garcia, a senior in Russian studies, said she's "much more likely to use the bus now."

"With the buses more visible, I am more likely to remember that they are there."

Olin Twithcell, a senior in fisheries, was not as optimistic and said he would probably not take the bus.

"I never really thought about taking the bus," he said. "I usually bike around."

Other changes are coming.

The Transportation Department has ordered a new bus fleet, which should arrive this May.

The department ordered 10 new buses with expanded capabilities.

"The new buses will have low-floor capabilities," Leone said. "They will be able to lower so that steps are not necessary."

The three old buses in best condition will be kept either as spares or for peak time.

The Transit Authority is having an open house on Halloween to provide information to riders. A "haunted bus" will be available for any trick-or-treaters.

The Transit Authority holds meeting every second Wednesday of the month at the Borough Administration Building. Maps of the new routes can be found at www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/transportation/.