News release

Communities Receive Boost for Public Transportation

Transportation and Active Transit (Feb. - Aug. 2021)

NOTE: A list of organizations receiving funding follows this release


The province is investing $4.7 million to improve access to public transportation across Nova Scotia.

Reliable community transportation allows people to access services, including going to work, shopping, attending medical appointments and getting their COVID-19 vaccines.

“Community transportation programs are essential for many Nova Scotians, both in rural and urban communities,” said Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Active Transit. “These programs offer full-service transportation to meet the daily needs of residents, especially important at a time when restrictions start lifting and people need to get around.”

Twenty-six projects will receive funding through the Community Transportation Assistance Program and the Public Transit Assistance Program this fiscal year.

The Community Transportation Assistance Program is providing more than $1.8 million in operating funding to 19 door-to-door community transportation services.

The Public Transit Assistance Program is providing $2,925,000 to municipalities and community organizations providing fixed route transit services. The funding is used towards capital purchases such as new buses.

Quotes:

“Supporting and increasing access to our transit system is a top priority for Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Provincial government support for new buses makes transportation affordable, reduces the environmental impact of commuting and helps our economy move forward.”

– Amanda McDougall, mayor, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

“We are grateful for these funding streams because it goes a long way in a small community like ours. This funding allows us to provide both fixed route services and door-to-door services, which has been incredibly helpful to our clients who often use us to attend medical appointments, access food, pick-up prescriptions and even get their COVID vaccinations.”

– Madonna van Vonderen, executive director, Antigonish Community Transportation Society

Quick Facts:

Additional Resources:

Community Transportation Assistance Program funding application: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-operating-costs-community-based-transportation-service-community-transportation-assistance-program

Public Transit Assistance Program funding application: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-buy-capital-assets-fixed-route-transit-services-run-municipalities-and-community-organizations-public-transit-assistance-program


Community Transportation Assistance Program recipients:

  • Antigonish County Transit Society, $85,580
  • BayRides, St. Margarets Bay area, $57,065
  • CHAD Transit, Pictou County, $171,569
  • Chester Community Wheels, $61,396
  • Colchester Transportation Cooperative Ltd., $172,492
  • Cumberland County Transportation Society, $146,360
  • East Hants Community Rider, $105,366
  • HOPE Dial-a-Ride, Yarmouth County, $96,225
  • Kings Point-To-Point Transit, Kings County, $150,294
  • La Coopérative de Transport de Chéticamp Lté, $45,582
  • Le Transport de Clare, $91,104
  • MusGo Rider, rural Halifax Regional Municipality, $82,799
  • MusGo Valley-Sheet Harbour, $58,598
  • Queens Transit Society, $65,879
  • Sou'West Nova Transit, Shelburne County, $78,800
  • Strait Area Transit, $96,984
  • Trans County Transportation Society, Annapolis and Western Kings counties, $129,928
  • Victoria County Transit, $63,689
  • West Hants Dial-a-Ride, $76,598

Public Transit Assistance Program recipients:

  • Halifax Regional Municipality $2,000,000
  • Cape Breton Regional Municipality $425,000
  • Kings Transit $375,000
  • Town of Yarmouth $25,000
  • Town of Bridgewater $25,000
  • Antigonish Community Transportation Society $25,000
  • Strait Area Transit $50,000