The St. John’s Transportation Commission is committed to delivering accessible, inclusive, and safe public transportation to the citizens of St. John’s. The Commission is dedicated to implementing solutions that move us towards full accessibility and ensure everyone can access public transit.

Below is a list of information about accessibility on public transit.

If you have accessibility related feedback you would like to share with us, if you would like to request an alternate format of a document, or if you require accommodation to visit Metrobus or attend an event, please contact us. You may email accessibility@metrobus.com or phone 709-570-2140.

The City of St. John’s is creating an Accessibility Plan that will outline current and future accessibility features that improve access to City programs, services and public spaces for persons with disabilities. Metrobus will be a part of this plan.

To help guide our work on improving accessibility, Metrobus formed an Accessibility Advisory Committee. Members were selected through an open application process and represent a wide variety of disability perspectives and experiences.

In May 2023, Metrobus conducted a survey to learn more about the barriers our customers face to using public transit. Read more about what we heard here: What We Heard

Attendant passes are issued by the City of St. John’s and enable a support person to accompany an individual to activities or events within the City. Attendant passes are accepted on Metrobus.

Attendant passes are not required on GoBus.

Registered GoBus customers who require an attendant to travel on Metrobus must show their GoCard.

Many passengers are sensitive to perfumes, colognes and other strong smells that cause adverse reactions. Both Metrobus and GoBus have policies asking customers to refrain from using heavily scented products.

Customers traveling with a service animal should ensure the animal is wearing its official service animal harness or have documentation from their health care professional to indicate that the service animal is required due to disability. The animal must be under complete control by the handler and not cause any disruption to other customers. Additionally, if traveling on GoBus, customers must indicate the animal’s presence when booking a trip. Further information the Service Animal Act can be found on the provincial government’s website.

The Provincial Government offers free bus passes to individuals in receipt of Income Support. Customers should contact Income Support directly to request a pass – 709-729-7888.

Seniors in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement can also receive a free bus pass. To obtain your free bus pass:

• Drop by Metrobus at 25 Messenger Drive starting Monday, May 16th. Our office hours are 7:30am to 7:00pm on weekdays and 10:00am to 5:00pm on weekends;


• Bring a copy of your Guaranteed Income Supplement letter received from the federal government along with your photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID, please bring 2 pieces of government issued ID. If you do not have a copy of your letter, please contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to request a copy.

Metrobus offers wheelchair accessibility along routes 1, 2, 3, 14 and 23. Buses can accommodate 2 wheelchairs/scooters and are equipped with fold out ramps. More than 40% of stops along these routes are deemed to be fully accessible and more than 80% of stops are ramp deployable. Many of these stops also have accessible shelters with seating. Every bus stop has signage to indicate if it is accessible or not. More information is available here: www.metrobus.com/ALF

Priority seating is available at the front is each Metrobus. Seating is prioritized for passengers using wheelchairs or scooters, passengers with disabilities and seniors.

All buses in the Metrobus fleet can kneel to the curb. This reduces the height of the entry making it easier to step in and out of the bus. Please feel free to ask the driver to kneel the bus any time you require it.

Accessible buses are available to charter upon request. More information can be found here: www.metrobus.com/charters/

Metrobus On Demand is our newest service which operates within established service zones only. On Demand utilizes accessible vehicles and offers door-to-door service upon request for individuals with mobility challenges. Customers may request the bus to come to their house rather than traveling to a virtual bus stop. Drivers will not provide an escort to/from your door but will assist with boarding and securement. More information is available here: www.metrobus.com/BookARide/

Serving our 50+ population, the Community Bus travels between various apartment complexes and shopping/recreation facilities. Wheelchair accessibility is available on the Community Bus. More information can be found here: www.metrobus.com/communitybus

After 7pm, Metrobus customers may request a stop that is in between bus stops, provided the driver can do so safely. Customers must make their request at least one bus stop ahead of where they wish to get off.

Metrobus values diversity in its workforce and encourages applications for all interested individuals. If you require accommodation to apply for a job or participate in an interview, please contact us.

The GoBus service is delivered by a third-party contractor – Tok Transit – who complete their own hiring. You may visit their website for more information about working with Tok: www.toktransit.com.

GoBus operates a fleet of 18 cutaway buses and can accommodate up to 4 passengers using wheelchairs/scooters and up to 8 ambulatory passengers. GoBus also utilizes local taxis, including wheelchair accessible taxis, to assist with meeting demand. Most vehicles are equipped with technology that allows customers to track their vehicles and know when they will arrive.

GoBus is the City’s paratransit service, available to individuals who are unable to utilize Metrobus due to disability related barriers. All GoBus customers must apply and be deemed eligible. Information about eligibility and the registration process, along with a copy of the application form can be found here: www.metrobus.com/gobus. Alternate formats of this information are available upon request.

Policies and procedures for GoBus are outlined in the GoBus User Guide, available at www.metrobus.com/gobus. This guide provides a variety of information, such as how to book a trip, how we respect your privacy, how to apply, the appeals process, the no-show policy, along with much more. If you require an alternate format of the User Guide, please contact us.

This group is comprised of users of GoBus, representatives from our funding partners, a member of the City’s Inclusion Advisory Committee, and management from Metrobus. The group’s mandate is to support the development and evaluation of service and operational guidelines, and to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient paratransit service.

This committee reports to St. John’s City Council, providing information and advice on inclusion and accessibility for City programs, policies and services. Metrobus’ Manager of Accessible Transit Services is a member of this committee.