Major changes to Community Transit routes and schedules take effect in June, and the agency says most riders will be affected in some way.

Some of the key changes include:

• No service on Sundays or major holidays (core local service is maintained six days a week.)
• Local and DART fare increase of 25-cents in all fare categories.
• Reduced early and late night trips on local service.
• Commuter service focused on park & rides rather than serving neighborhoods.
• Customer Information phones and RideStore will operate Monday through Friday only.

Full schedules and updated route maps are posted on the Community Transit website.

Community Transit says suspending all Sunday service will impact many riders, but it saves many more riders from worse cuts. On an average weekday, about 35,000 passengers ride CT buses compared with 8,700 on Sundays. The agency says restoration of Sunday and holiday service is their first priority when more funding becomes available, either through an improved economy or more state and/or federal funding.

The changes come as Community Transit tries to close a $5 million budget gap this year (and $11 million in 2011). Check out the video below for more information about the agency’s funding problems.