Crosstown bus route aims to improve services in Helsinki

The Executive Board of Helsinki region transport authority-HSL earlier this week approved the Helsinki crosstown route network development plan.

The plan aims to change crosstown bus services on Koskelantie, Hakamäentie and Metsäläntie as well as in Maunula approximately in August 2021, said HSL in a press release.

The new crosstown bus network aims to improve bus services in Helsinki by providing more frequent service and longer operating hours.

At present, this level of service is provided on routes to Helsinki city center, on rail services and on trunk routes 550 and 560 (from August 2019 also routes 500 and 510). Otherwise crosstown services consist of miscellaneous routes with varying operating hours and service frequencies. Especially outside peak hours, difficult and time-consuming interchanges make crosstown travel troublesome.

With the new crosstown routes, HSL will take a step towards more networked public transport providing smooth, frequent service also outside peak hours in many directions. In addition, the plan is based on the premise that trunk bus 550 will be replaced by a new light-rail link.

In the new crosstown route network, bus routes are divided into three categories according to their level of service: frequently running routes, basic routes and complementary routes.