A new shuttle bus will begin operating in Warwick on February 16 as a free service during peak commuter hours, the Ministry of Transport announced yesterday.

The pilot shuttle bus system, a project between the Transport Ministry and the Public Transportation Board (PTB) is set to run for eight weeks from Monday to Friday.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said: ?Our decision to test this new service in Warwick stems from the fact that Warwick is one of the most densely populated parishes in Bermuda. It has a very vibrant community, complete with a shopping complex, several grocery stores and schools. It is our hope to provide residents of Warwick with a shuttle service that will help them to accomplish all their day-to-day activities, and I hope they will support and take advantage of this new service.?

The service will run at peak commuter times from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a route that will include, but not be limited to: Warwick Post Office, Khyber Pass, Spice Hill Road, Camp Road and Middle Road.

?We are firm believers at the Ministry of Transport in finding more alternative ways to service our commuting public, and this new pilot programme is just one of the many initiatives on tap at the Ministry of Transport,? Dr. Brown said.

He added that once the service has concluded on April 9 the PTB will run a data analysis exercise to see if a future service is needed.