A $2-million provincial grant will help Halifax Transit buy nine buses this year to replace aging MetroX rural express buses in the fleet.

The funding is from the Department of Municipal Affairs’ Public Transit Assistance Program. It provides annual grants to help cover the costs of capital assets such as new buses and vans, upgrades to vehicles, bus shelters, and vehicle garages.

“A modern public transit service is important infrastructure for a sustainable urban community,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “This funding will help Halifax Transit buy new, accessible buses to meet the needs of their customers.”

The 40-foot accessible low-floor buses will replace older, high-floor and coach-style buses currently used on Halifax Transit’s MetroX rural express routes. The new buses benefit the overall transit system.

“Providing a reliable, cost-effective transit system is one of Council’s top priorities,” said Halifax Mayor Mike Savage. “These new buses will improve transit services by achieving a fully accessible bus fleet, more reliable service delivery, reduced maintenance costs, and flexibility to deploy these buses on more routes across the system.”

Six public transit services across the province are receiving $2.9 million through the program this year. They offer fixed route service or a combination of fixed and flexible route service. The formula for the grant is based on total annual ridership and the population in the area of the transit service.

Source: Release