Adding evening bus service through the week could have positive implications for more than just passengers, transit manager Cheri Malo has learned.

"It's actually changing people's lives,” she said in an interview Wednesday as she discussed the extended service that's set to start next Tuesday.

The full effects of the additional hours remain unknown.

However, Malo said she has spoken with local business owners who are considering keeping their establishments open longer into the evening, with buses running until 10 p.m.

In the past, they told her, they didn't have the staff to stay open into the evening, as many depend on transit to get home.

Now, with more staff able to stay at work longer, businesses have the option of staying open longer – would mean more shopping opportunities for all, Malo pointed out.

She wouldn't, however, say which businesses are considering extending their hours, noting there are a number of other factors that could play into that decision.

She's also received phone calls from staff at shops already open until 10 p.m. who are happy to report they can now take on more shifts or have their hours changed to the evening. when they'd prefer to work.

The buses will roll essentially at the same hours they've run on the Friday night schedule that's been in place for years.

There will be a special Yukon College bus set to arrive at the school at around 9:50 p.m., and will be there until shortly after the last class is out at 10 p.m.

From there, it will do the Takhini run and then arrive at the bus stop closest to Walmart at 10:15 p.m.

That will give staff there and at other big box stores in the area time to get to the bus, which will continue through downtown and to Riverdale.

While officials with various shops on the bus route have praised the change, they have yet to come on board and purchase employee transit passes, as Yukon College has done.

Discussions with the businesses are ongoing to that end, but most have said they want the system in place first to see how it goes and how many employees will use it.

"They need the system running,” she said.

Full-time Yukon College students just have to flash their student IDs to use the bus system thanks to an agreement between the college and city where the college and students' union paid for the approximately 550 passes at a reduced rate.

Students' union president Daniel Ashley thanked the city, college and other members of the student union executive for making the program happen as he recalled his first year at the school. He was attending evening classes and had to ask others for rides, not knowing exactly how he would get home on those nights.

Student Bryce Hierlihy said he will be travelling to the college by bus from Riverdale every day.

"This will definitely be a huge help to me,” he said. "I'm pleased that the city, college and student union fees (are) going towards something that I will get a lot of use out of.”

College officials also noted the environmental benefits, stating they hope students who have vehicles will use the bus system, which in turn would help them save on gas.

The city, student union and city will meet at the end of the school year to discuss how the program went and look at its possible expansion to include options for part-time students and staff.

Malo is expecting the number of college students using the system to rise significantly.

However, she noted it may take some time before there's a noticeable increase in passengers during the evening hours, as it often takes some time for people to grow accustomed to changes in the bus service.

Meanwhile, Malo noted, for the approximately 25 drivers on staff (with about seven or eight driving at any given time) are pleased to receive longer work hours.

They're accustomed to the schedule, having already done the Friday night routes.

New schedules are available on the buses or online at www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca.