Some small businesses are wondering what’s next if the DRL bus service is forced to shut down.

General manager Jason Roberts says the coachline has lost millions since ridership plummeted due to COVID-19. He says without government help, he might be forced to shut the service down next month.

That would affect Brad Squires’ income. He operates Uplands Bait Shop and ships his product to customers across the island through DRL. He says without the service, he won’t be able to ship his live bait to trouters west of Grand Falls-Windsor.

Squires says if the service were no longer available, he would still be able to get his product to customers through wholesalers, but it will affect his bottom line.

Jennifer Keating of Stephenville says DRL is the only means of island-wide transit available to many people. While she does drive, she’d rather take the bus than drive across the island to visit family.