The shuttle has been running daily since July.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced Friday a reduction in the operation of the free shuttle service between New Hope Borough and the city of Lambertville.

In a statement, officials cited low ridership and the effectiveness of the temporary walkway over the New Hope-Lambertville toll bridge, which is currently being renovated.

The free shuttle service, which started in July, is now only available on weekends and public holidays.

Starting Friday evening, the shuttle will run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (including the upcoming Labor Day).

The bridge’s permanent walkway has been closed since mid-July due to ongoing renovation work.

The shuttle stops in the business districts of both cities.

In the New Hope neighborhood, the stop is located on the north side of North Main Street near the PNC Bank and Starbucks Coffee. In the city of Lambertville, passengers can board or disembark on the Pennsylvania side of Bridge Street, near the historic site of the former Black River-Western Railroad crossing and near the Princeton Bank building.

The shuttle ride between the two stops takes about 12 to 15 minutes. The bus used exceeds the four-ton total weight limit on the bridge and is forced to use the nearby toll bridge instead, officials said.

Weekend and holiday operations are expected to continue until improvements to the bridge’s walkway are completed and the bridge is deemed safe for the public.

The bridge rehabilitation project, which began in late January, focuses on upgrading structural and aesthetic elements of the bridge. This includes replacing the walkway’s fiberglass panels, repainting the steel truss superstructure and replacing worn steel components. The upgrade also includes new energy-efficient LED lighting for the roadway and walkway with a programmable color-changing system designed to highlight the bridge’s Pratt truss construction.