Providing public transit has a greater good - councillor

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

Kings County Register

Wolfville’s town council rep on the Kings Transit board fears political conflict over public transportation funding.

Bill Zimmerman, also an energy consultant, told fellow councillors other municipalities want to shrink their support. He suggested some elected officials are more interested in getting re-elected than allowing for this year’s anticipated 17 per cent increase in gas prices. Others are more aware of the importance of the bus system.

“It’s not for us personally or our friends, but we know there are people who are dependent on that bus. The demand is there,” he said.

According to Zimmerman, the line needs another bus to prevent speeding on the busy route into Kentville from Greenwood, which carries Kingstec students.

“Nova Scotia has abandoned all interest in public transit in an era of rising gas prices,” he said.

The average government support for public transport per citizen last year across Canada was $25, Zimmerman noted; in this province, it’s 70 cents.

Mayor Bob Stead is hopeful the Kings municipal partnership group will focus on the need for transit support.

“We have to get the message out. The bottom line is that, with budgeting, you have to have vision and if you can’t articulate it, it’s not there.”

Speaking about the lack of a provincial transportation strategy, Zimmerman suggested government is soley focused on the mega “Atlantic gateway.”

“They’re not looking at the potential outside Halifax for rail,” he said. “Short lines are useful. We have to open up the mind of the province, but I don’t know how.”

The creation of two exchanges on Highway 101 would cost the same as upgrading rail from New Minas to Halifax, Zimmerman understood. Some day, he noted, a spur line around a new Kentville housing development might be wise.

Speaking on a request from Digby to also support the Bay of Fundy ferry with $1,400, Zimmerman suggested, without a comprehensive transportation strategy, decisions could be made in a vacuum.

Zimmerman concluded the “province has got to step up.”

Transport perspective

With only three transit systems (including Kings Transit) and eight rural dial-a-ride accessibility services in the province, there is significant potential for growth.

The Halifax-based non-profit research group GPI Atlantic said, in 2006, the largest cost for Nova Scotian households was not health, housing, food or even shelter; but transportation - and the cost is rising.

"The average Nova Scotian spends about $3,036 a year directly on costs such as vehicle ownership and operation, transit fares and parking and incurs an additional $4,562 in indirect economic and environmental costs," says executive director Ronald Colman. "We see the direct costs of fuel, car payments, insurance, registration fees and repairs; but we don't see the indirect costs:” transport-related water pollution and the value of the land devoted to roads and parking lots.