Money for Hut's viewed as breathing room

By Michael Gorman

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The town's budget will give Hut's Transit an additional $20,000 but both the mayor and the service's operator say that money will only provide the service breathing room — a more sustainable solution must be planned.

Gary Hudson appeared before the town's finance committee more than a month ago to request a funding increase. During that meeting Hudson told the town that he needed a minimum of $20,000 added to the $40,000 the town already provides for the service. Hudson said even with an additional $20,000 it would not solve his escalating costs. His initial request was for an additional $40,000, which would have raised his budget to $80,000. Already Hudson is forced to work an additional job to provide for his family and has dipped into his personal savings to keep the service on the road.

Hudson said he talked with council about the need to find new ways to not only fund the service but to increase it. As fuel prices continue to rise, he said, some people would be forced to make difficult decisions. Having a quality public transit system would go a long way to solving some of those woes. What the town needs now, said Hudson, is action on the matter.

"Transportation has been studied to death," he said. "We know what the situation is. We need to come up with a plan to be able to financially sustain (the service)."

At last week's council meeting, the mayor agreed.

"There has to be a lot of changes made," said Mayor Charles Crosby, who added he hoped to petition the province to allow the town to access provincial grants for public transit. Because the service is under Hudson's name as opposed to that of the town, he has been unable to qualify for provincial or federal funding to this point. Crosby said he wants to see that changed. After all, a rose is still a rose by any other name.

"Transit is transit," said Crosby. "(The town) is subsidizing it so it's as much the town's as it is Hut's."

Crosby said he would also petition the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to get behind the proposal when he meets with them in three weeks.

Despite the funding issues the service faces right now and issues surrounding ridership and advertising routes, Crosby said there is a place for public transit in Yarmouth. In fact, Crosby's vision for public transit as it moves forward is an expanded service that would reach areas outside the town limits.

"I think not only should we be looking at the town but we should be looking at Hebron, we should be looking at Arcadia and we should also go as far as Tusket and have transit come from there to a hub in Yarmouth and then take them to the places they have to go."

Hudson said this is an idea that needs to be considered. And although he said the area's size would only allow for so much, he said rising prices of fuel could have some people looking for alternative ways to get around.

"That certainly is going to have an effect on the individuals that are living outside of the community that may need to be transported into town for work or whatever they need."