Local wheelchair user Allison McQueen was all smiles as she took her first ride on the new accessible bus, assisted by MLA Chuck Porter, Mayor Anna Allen, Kings Transit manager Ron Mullins, South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP Gerald Keddy and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Jamie Muir.
Jennifer Hoegg
KT launches accessible bus service in Hants County
By Jennifer Hoegg
The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com
Sunshine glinted on two new, shiny, buses Monday morning as the King’s Transit Authority launched accessible bus service for Hants County. The new buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and other special features to accommodate seniors and people with disabilities. With the introduction of external bike racks, cyclists can also ride part of their route.
Designed to save money and the environment, the buses are smaller and more fuel-efficient than the vehicles used before. Both use diesel emission technology and operate on low-sulphur fuel.
Purchase of the new buses was made possible by a $260,000 grant from the Government of Canada’s Public Transit Fund. Kings Transit also received $50,000 from the fund to install new video surveillance system on all buses to improve safety and security.
Kings Transit general manager Ron Mullins graciously acknowledged the federal contributions. “This fund highlights all levels of governments’ commitment to transit and the sustainability of our communities.”
South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP Gerald Keddy said that the buses will “allow users to lower their personal carbon footprint.” Keddy commended the municipalities of Kings County, Kentville, Wolfville, Hantsport, West Hants and Windsor for taking on the challenge of integrating public transport into rural life.
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister
Jamie Muir was also present to praise the project. “Public transit will help improve air quality for all Canadians. Choosing to ride the bus instead of a car is an important step.”
Transit board member Kings County Deputy Warden Diana Brothers is herself a bus user, commuting from Greenwood to Kentville daily. She announced that, with the introduction of bus service to Hants County, Kings Transit now serves more than 360 kilometres. Users can now take the transit from Windsor to Weymouth for $3.
Hants County’s bus service has had a difficult time building rider-ship since its introduction in 2007. Brothers pointed out to the municipal leaders present that there was a “need to make sure the public knows about our transit system.”
