(COTA) — The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority is excited to announce the expansion of the Transit CNMI Blue Line 1B fixed route service will now include Northern Marianas College through some parts of As Lito and Dandan on Saipan. Scheduled to commence sometime this April.
With this expansion, NMC students will have expanded options for transportation to and from the As Terlaje campus, fostering greater convenience and opportunities for educational pursuits. Whether commuting for classes, activities, or other engagements, riders can now rely on the Transit CNMI Blue Line 1B to facilitate their journeys efficiently and affordably priced at just 50 cents per ride upon presentation of a valid student ID. All riders are able to get the daily arrival/departure schedules by scanning the QR code that is placed at each bus stop or they can simply contact COTA’s One-Call/One-Click Transportation Information Resource Center at (670) 236-2682 for further information regarding the arrival/departure schedules.
Furthermore, the expansion of our routes benefits not only students but also the general public. The Blue Line 1B now covers various amenities such as coffee shops, grocery stores, gym facilities, places of worship, social assistance programs, and more, providing convenient access to essential services for all.
“Enhanced services to NMC allow our residents to access affordable transportation options as they pursue their educational goals and objectives,” said Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
“The inclusion of NMC in the new route is part of this administration’s efforts to aggressively expand and build upon COTA’s services to offer safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions to meet our islands’ needs,” said Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang.
“Around April of this year, our goal is to launch Transit CNMI Blue Line 1A which will run from the NMC through Middle Road, up around the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation facility, around the Garapan district then back to NMC” shared Alfreda Camacho-Maratita, special assistant for public transportation for the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority.
Daily service runs from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ChST offering a reliable transportation option for residents throughout the day. Each trip on the Blue Line 1B is priced at $1. Discounted fares are priced at 50 cents for students, veterans, active military and their families, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. Day passes are also available for $5 per day to the general public, or a discounted rate of $2.50 per day for students, veterans, active duty military and their families, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities.
Passengers can pay on the bus with cash (exact change only) or obtain bus passes from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at COTA’s administrative building and maintenance facility at 12841 Lower Base Dr., Saipan, CNMI.
“We would like to thank the community for their continued support and understanding as we continue to do our very best to launch more routes on the island of Saipan for everyone to enjoy,” Camacho-Maratita said.
To stay updated on the latest developments regarding the expansion of our fixed bus route, fares, times, and list of stops, we encourage everyone to follow our social media channels@transitcnmi and visit our website at transit.cnmi.gov/.
