St. Joseph Transit will start running two new routes on Saturdays starting this weekend.

According to a news release from the City of St. Joseph, the new routes will depart from the downtown station at 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4:15 p.m. The city said the new schedule will close the two-hour gap between current scheduled trips along the new routes.

The #19 East route is a combination of the #13 Frederick Avenue and #14 Faraon/Jules routes. It connects numerous residential areas with the shopping mall, library, Hobby Lobby, Price Chopper, the hospital and Hy-Vee. The #20 North route is a combination of the #11 St. Joseph Avenue and #12 Lovers Lane routes. It connects residents to Second Harvest, the casino, Green Hills grocery, Krug Park, the North Shoppes, and north WalMart.

The city said federal grant funding that targets improving transportation options for seniors and people with disabilities is what led to the additional routes. They were designed based on demographic data that identified these areas as having the highest concentration of these populations. Funding for one year of service has been secured. The city has applied for additional funds which would be used to expand with a third route into the south side of the city, which has the next highest concentration of senior and disabled residents.

Maps and schedules are available on the transit website at www.StJoeTransit.info or by calling 816-233-6700.