Province Supports Strait Transit Program

Residents of the Strait area will soon have access to regional transit services, thanks to support from the province.

The Strait Area Transit Co-operative will use a one-time contribution of $120,000 from the province to purchase three vehicles, construct bus shelters and other related infrastructure to support a transit-service pilot project.

"Improving infrastructure, protecting our environment, and building safer, healthier communities are three priorities of our government, and the transit proposal helps in all three," Premier MacDonald announced today, April 4, in Port Hawkesbury.

"The province is happy to support the initiative. It will mean so much for residents who currently are in need of safe, affordable and accessible transportation."

The contribution will help the co-operative purchase one 20-passenger accessible bus, two seven-passenger commuter vans, bus shelters and office equipment. Service will include scheduled, regular week-day main-route transit, door-to-door (in conjunction with the Provincial Dial-a-Ride program), and charter services for nursing homes, senior complexes, regional occupation centres and others.

The co-operative expects transit to begin in mid-June.

"Everyone involved has worked extremely hard on this project, and we're thrilled to have the provincial support," said John Boudreau, warden of the Municipality of Richmond. "This support is the enabling factor in a project that will bring tremendous benefit to so many needy citizens, and we are very excited to know that the project will soon be up and running."