A region in Nova Scotia is set to transport residents around more efficiently using cleaner energy.
The federal government, alongside the provincial government, unveiled a total of $10 million.
The eight-figure investment aims to improve rural transit services across the counties of Kings, Annapolis, and Digby, which have a combined population of more than 100,000 people.
“Community transit gets so many people where they need to go: school, work, medical appointments, or just out to see friends and family,” says John Lohr, Nova Scotia Minister of Finance. “The Province is so pleased to be able to support … an important link between communities.”
The federal-provincial project features replacing aging buses with new buses, including introducing the region’s first electric bus.
And, in order to support the region’s newly electrified fleet, Tidal Transit Authority will install three charging stations and upgrade their maintenance facility accordingly.
“The Government of Canada is proud to support this project that will renew Tidal Transit’s bus fleet and make life better for residents in the Annapolis Valley,
remarked Kody Blois, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants.
“By improving the reliability of their service, Tidal Transit is contributing to more inclusive communities, connecting residents to each other and the services they need,” Blois stated.
“This $10-million investment is a major win for our community and for rural transit,” added Dave Corkum, Mayor of the Municipality of the County of Kings. “This funding means new buses, improved infrastructure, and more reliable service for the people who depend on public transit every day.”
The federal government invested $8M through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund, while the Government of Nova Scotia is contributing $2M.
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund supports a range of public transit models including fixed-route transit, flex-route transit, demand-response transit, community shuttles, and Mobility-as-a-Service.