News Archives 2006

December 2006

• New Routes in the New Year!

Route #23 Timberlea
In response to an increase in ridership from the Timberlea-Lakeside-Beechville areas, Metro Transit is reintroducing a more direct route for passengers in the Timberlea area to downtown Halifax. The #23 Timberlea will provide a weekday, rush hour service that will follow a similar route in Timberlea as Route #21; however, it will bypass Bayer’s Lake Industrial Park via the St.Margaret’s Bay Road. It will assume 30 minute service between Timberlea, Mumford Terminal, the hospitals and Scotia Square. The #23 Timberlea will begin service in February 2007.

Route #56 Dartmouth Crossing
In anticipation of the new Dartmouth Crossing development, Metro Transit has designed a new route #56 Dartmouth Crossing. This new route will provide weekday, Saturday and Sunday service between Penhorn Terminal, Mic Mac Terminal and the Dartmouth Crossing Development. Effective once the Dartmouth Crossing development opens, #56 will offer 40 minute service from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Dartmouth Crossing is expected to open mid January 2007.

Route #88 Northgate
Metro Transit is pleased to have a new route designed to service the new Northgate development. The new #88 Northgate will provide weekday, Saturday and Sunday service between the Sackville Terminal, Cobequid Terminal and the Northgate Development. The route will assume 60 minute service as soon as the Northgate development is open for business. The Northgate development is expected to open mid February 2007.

November 2006

• Government of Canada Invests $37.5 million in Transit in Nova Scotia
  
  Eleven public transit systems in Nova Scotia will be improved thanks to the Government of Canada's investment of $37.5 million.

The announcement was made on Nov. 24, by Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and ACOA, on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

These investments towards public transit infrastructure will help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, as well as help reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Transit services that will benefit from the federal funding include Metro Transit in Halifax Regional Municipality, Cape Breton Transit, Kings Transit (Kings County and surrounding area), and eight other community transit organizations. Eligible capital investments may include the purchase of buses and accessible transit vehicles, the construction of new terminals and maintenance facilities, and the acquisition of improved computerized systems for transit services.

"Reliable and efficient public transit is key to ensuring environmentally sound, vibrant, and healthy communities," said Mr. MacKay. "The Government of Canada recognizes that improving public transit use can help reduce congestion, lower automobile emissions, and make our communities more livable by supporting their economic, social, and cultural development."

"Today's investments will help improve our public transit systems in both urban and rural Nova Scotian communities," said Mr. Muir. "They support healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities, as well as help protect our environment. They also reduce isolation through better access to employment, education, medical services, and community and social events."

The funds include more than $11.7 million from the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Public Transit Funds, and $25.8 million to Nova Scotia through the federal Public Transit Capital Trust.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations will administer the distribution of these funds, primarily based on ridership. Public transit providers will likely receive funding before March 31, 2007.

"We are delighted that the Canadian government is investing in public transit systems throughout Nova Scotia," said Russell Walker, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "Larger transit services, which include HRM, Kings, and CBRM, will be able to provide improved services, and rural communities will be able to enhance accessible services to seniors, persons with disabilities, and the disadvantaged."

Through Budget 2006, the Government of Canada has provided $1.3 billion in dedicated funding for public transit across Canada. Nationally, $900 million was provided through the Public Transit Capital Trust and $400 million was committed through the Public Transit Fund.

For more information about the transit funding, please call 1-902-424-2088. For more information on the Government of Canada's infrastructure initiatives in Nova Scotia, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.

February 2006

• Phase II of the MetroLink Service Launched in Sackville

On Monday, February 20th 2006, Mayor Peter Kelly, along with Federal, Provincial and Municipal officials, launched Phase II of Halifax Regional Municipality's (HRM's) limited-stop direct MetroLink service from the Sackville area to the downtown. The introduction of Phase II is a culmination of over two years of planning after HRM was awarded funding through Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program. Others partners in the project were the Province of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality. The MetroLink service was designed to attract new riders to public transit and ultimately to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Urban Transportation Showcase Program aims to demonstrate how communities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve other benefits such as cleaner air and reduced congestion through integrated sustainable transportation initiatives. Halifax is one of five cities across Canada under the program that is leading by example and sharing their experiences with other communities to help foster the implementation of similar approaches. "The Government of Canada will continue to work with the provinces and municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through programs like the Urban Transportation Showcase Program ", said Lawrence Cannon, federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "Innovative projects such as MetroLink provide Halifax and Canadians alike with sustainable transportation options while helping achieve our goals of reducing GHG emissions." Nova Scotia Minister of Energy, Cecil Clarke added, "The province is pleased to support projects that encourage alternate transportation modes while contributing to a healthier and greener province. It's vital that initiatives such as these continue in order to reduce the production of harmful emissions." At this morning's launch, Mayor Peter Kelly said "The introduction of phase II of the MetroLink service to the Sackville area clearly demonstrates the success of this new service to HRM. The municipality's transit system is a key component of the proposed Regional Plan and the fact that we're already working towards those improvements with projects like the MetroLink service is key to the plan's success." HRM's MetroLink is a $13.3 million project, which includes the establishment of two MetroLink corridors using transit signal priority and limited stops to create competitive trip times. Twenty buses will be used to service both Portland Hills and Sackville corridors, with 10-minute peak service. Transport Canada contributed $4.1 million; HRM contributed $8.4 million; the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Public Works contributed $705,000, while the Nova Scotia Department of Energy provided $80,000 towards the project. TRAX of the Ecology Action Centre is a public education partner in the project. Phase I of the MetroLink service was launched in Portland Hills in August 2005 with unprecedented success.

January 2006

• More Parking Space to be introduced at Portland Hills Terminal - Spring 2006

Due to the overwhelming response from passengers for the new MetroLink service from Portland Hills, the Park & Ride Lot is already filled to capacity. Metro Transit wishes to advise its passengers that more land has recently been acquired and expansion of the Portland Hills Park & Ride Lot will take place in early Spring 2006. The expansion is expected to accommodate approximately 50 more parking spaces, including those with carpool priority. We will continue to update passengers as information becomes available.