Grants Strengthen Public Transportation in Urban and Rural Nova Scotia

Press Release

October 30, 2019

Affordable, accessible and reliable public transit can make communities stronger. That is why government invests millions every year to help service providers maintain or expand public transit.

Through the Public Transit Assistance Program, government will provide almost $3 million to seven transit providers from Cape Breton to Yarmouth to help them buy buses, bus terminals and shelters. Kings Transit Authority will use a $375,000 grant to buy new buses. These organizations have been receiving these grants since 2013-14.

“Government is committed to building stronger communities by making transportation more affordable, convenient and reliable, and by better connecting communities to each other,” said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine.

In addition, 13 organizations will receive $245,000 through the Nova Scotia Transit Research Incentive Program. These grants help communities develop ideas and plans for new and improved public transit in rural and unserviced urban areas.

Eskasoni First Nation in Cape Breton will explore potential public transit options using a $30,000 research grant to conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan to explore transit options for Eskasoni First Nation.

Quotes:

“The Kings Transit Authority is grateful for the support it has received from the Province of Nova Scotia through the Public Transit Assistance Program. This funding contribution will support planned investments in new transit vehicles and bolster efforts to improve the customer experience for our ridership in the Annapolis Valley”.

Glen Bannon, general manager Kings Transit Authority”Eskasoni First Nation is really excited to undertake a large-scale project that will help our community members and residents, as transportation has always been a major barrier to our people. Nova Scotia Transit Research Incentive Program will allow us to take a serious look at the needs of our community and work on finding a way of providing a solution that best meets our unique needs. This project will benefit our community as we will increase mobility for people to work and play in more of Unama’ki”.

Chief Leroy Denny, Chief, Eskasoni First Nation

Quick Facts:

• the Public Transit Assistance Program is providing $2.9 million in grants to Kings Transit, Halifax Transit, Transit Cape Breton, Strait Area Transit, Antigonish Community Transit Society, Town of Yarmouth Transit Service and Bridgewater Transit
• the Nova Scotia Transit Research Incentive Program is providing $245,000 in grants to 13 organizations, including Antigonish Community Transit Society; Bay Rides, Halifax Regional Municipality, East Hants Community Rider, Eskasoni First Nation, King’s Transit, Le Transport de Clare; Municipality of East Hants, Musgo Rider, Halifax Regional Municipality, Queens Transit Society, Resources Opportunity Centre, Halifax Regional Municipality, Sou’West Nova Transit, Spryfield Business Commission and West Hants Dial-A-Ride
• the department also administers the Community Transportation Assistance Program, which provides annual operating funding for door-to-door community transit services, and the Accessible Transportation Assistance Program, which helps these organizations purchase accessible vehicles
• as part of the Culture Action Plan’s mandate to strengthen communities, the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage has developed a plan to improve access to community transportation with a focus on rural communities and older Nova Scotians