Halifax Transit Bus & Access-A-Bus services suspended Thursday morning, Mar. 19; Ferry Service resumes

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2015 (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Transit is advising residents that it will continue today's suspension of conventional bus and Access-A-Bus services into Thursday morning, Mar. 19.

Suspending bus and Access-A-Bus service on Thursday morning will allow the municipality to address an issue with one of two Halifax Transit bus garages, and continue with ongoing snow clearing of major arterials throughout the region. 

A heavy snow load on the roof of the Burnside Transit Centre has caused the municipality to close the building as a precautionary measure until the snow can be removed and the building is deemed safe for Halifax Transit employees. Current and forecasted blowing snow over the next 12 hours will not enable building maintenance staff to clear the roof in time for tomorrow's scheduled bus service. The Burnside Transit Centre is the location of approximately 60 per cent of Halifax Transit's fleet of buses, with 60-70 of those vehicles stored inside the building, as well as Access-A-Bus dispatch and scheduling office. As a result, Halifax Transit is unable to deliver a scheduled, fixed route bus service or Access-A-Bus service until access to the Burnside dispatch centre and buses is re-established. 

A decision will be made by 12 p.m. on Thursday if conventional bus and Access-A-Bus services can resume for the afternoon and evening. Updates on Halifax Transit service on Thursday, Mar. 19 will be provided through a Public Service Announcement and @hfxtransit on Twitter, which is also streamed online at www.halifax.ca/transit. 

Halifax Transit ferries on both the Alderney and Woodside routes will resume regular weekday service tomorrow, Mar. 19. Visit www.halifax.ca/transit/schedules/index.php for detailed ferry schedules.

Halifax Transit and the municipality understand that suspending bus and Access-A-Bus services may be an inconvenience to some residents; however, the safety of passengers and Halifax Transit employees must be our top priority. 

For regular storm updates and more information on snow clearing, residents can visit www.halifax.ca/snow.

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