WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) is just over a week away from rolling out a new bus schedule and increasing frequency on its four most popular routes.

The WRTA Advisory Board met Thursday morning to discuss the changes and future plans.

Buses on routes 11,19, 26, and 30 will arrive every 20 minutes during peak hours beginning Aug. 28. Operational hours on these routes will be extended to midnight. The routes serve venues like the Hanover Theatre, DCU Center and Polar Park, as well as Walmarts in Worcester and West Boylston. 

New schedules will be available to WRTA riders five days before the schedule changes take effect on Aug. 28. 

The WRTA will allocate $5.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to commit to the new schedule on the four routes for the next six to seven years (roughly $800,000 per year).

The WRTA will also be rolling out six, new 35-foot buses. In 2022, they will be receiving an additional eight new vehicles.