Changes Support Reliable Bus Service

Legislation introduced today, Nov. 16, will help support reliable bus service across the province for students, seniors and others who rely on scheduled bus travel.

"We're responding to the concerns we've heard from many bus travelers and operators," Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Maurice Smith said of the Inter-City Bus Service Act. "Nova Scotians want to know they can depend on a reliable bus service and bus operators want to be successful. These amendments strike that balance."

The bus industry in Nova Scotia, like many industries, has struggled with economic challenges for years. They have had to apply to the Utility and Review Board and attend public hearings for all applications, including requests to change tariffs, schedules and routes. This can be time consuming and costly.

"The act will help to improve efficiency for bus operators and ease financial pressures which can sometimes lead to increase fares," said Mr Smith. "These changes will also give operators the flexibility to meet the unique needs of rural parts of the province."

The act mean bus operators can make timely, reasonable changes to tariffs, schedules and routes without the cost of hiring a lawyer and attending a hearing. The responsibility for inter-city bus service will transfer from the Utility and Review Board to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. The board will still be responsible for charter and commercial vehicles and school buses.

For significant changes, there will an opportunity for written public input and the minister can also refer these requests to the board, if warranted.

"I'm very pleased with the changes being introduced and the level of support from the Nova Scotia government," said Mike Cassidy, Maritime Bus Owner. "It means we can now obtain quick decisions so we can better plan and strategize our operations to meet market demand in a timely manner."

Acadian bus lines announced in August it would discontinue bus service Nov. 30. The board accepted the application from Maritime Bus to replace Acadian Lines. All routes will be covered by bus or van.