LEWISTON — Betty Labbe, 79, applauded the changes to the Citylink bus service Monday — longer routes, longer hours, Saturday service — but cautioned a crowd of riders and local officials to go easy on those “fantastic” people, the bus drivers:

“Passengers should have patience with the drivers as it’s all new for everyone.”

Several years in the works, the changes add a new hub at the Hannaford on Spring Street in Auburn, add service along several regular routes and introduce Saturday hours, 9:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

“I’ve been working with the Transit Committee for 16 years. This is the biggest expansion we’ve had,” said Marsha Bennett, transit coordinator for the Lewiston-Auburn Transit Committee. “We filled in a lot of gaps in the system.”

Service that used to end the day at 5:30 p.m. will go to 6:30 p.m., she said, and routes will now be based on a 60-minute run instead of a half-hour, making it more reliable.

The changes came without a fare increase. Fare for adults is $1.25, $30 for a monthly unlimited pass.

“Our monthly pass just became a better bargain,” Bennett said.

State Transportation Commissioner David Cole congratulated the Transit Committee as well as Lewiston and Auburn city councils, which each committed $46,000 in additional funds to the bus service this year.

“We don’t live in an 8-to-5 world anymore,” Cole said. “This plan reflects what the people want. It may sound simple, but it doesn’t always happen.”

Brenda Akers with Visible Community said since her group began organizing six years ago they’ve heard lots of requests for bus service on evenings and weekends, and for stops in more neighborhoods. More than 3,000 households in Lewiston don’t have a vehicle, she said. Many rely on the bus.

“I’ll be riding it. It’s a big deal to me,” Akers said.

Kathleen Jacques gave up her car nearly two years ago, upset at oil companies and tired of rising gas prices. She’s been taking the bus home from her job on Middle Street ever since. It costs less than maintaining a second car, she said, forces her to get some exercise walking to and from the bus stop, and she’s met lots of new people.

She lives about 3 miles from work. It’s a 20-minute bus ride.

“Give it a try, I think you’ll enjoy the experience,” she told the crowd.

Labbe said she’s been a rider for “years and years.” Every morning, she hops on and goes to the Auburn Mall to walk around.

“Winter, summer, spring, fall — I’m out there,” Labbe said.

For more specifics on the new schedule, www.purplebus.org

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