Halifax Transit

[maxchristie]

The Feds put out a media advisory for Monday. Looks like construction will get underway on the terminals soon.

Bedford, Nova Scotia, March 4, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to an infrastructure announcement related to the Mill Cove Ferry Service with Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax and Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities; Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, and Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook; the Honourable Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of Public Works Minister Kim Masland; Tim Outhit, Councillor for HRM District 16 (Bedford - Wentworth), and Dave Reage, Executive Director of Halifax Transit.

Date:
March 4, 2024

Time:
11:00 a.m. AST

Location:
Bedford Basin Yacht Club
377 Shore Drive, Bedford NS B4A 2C7
http://https://www.canada.ca/en/office-i...rastructure-announcement-in-halifax.html

[Keith P.]

The federal Libs are trying to keep an ember of hope alive for their chances in the next election.

[xzmattzx]

Sorry if this is the wrong thread, or if I should make a new one in the General section, but I am going to Halifax later this month for a few days, for the second time, and want to explore the area more this time around. I would love to go to Prince Edward Island, actually. Is Maritime Bus the best way to get there other than renting a car?

If I don't go to PEI, I want to go to Lunenburg and/or Windsor. It looks like there are regional bus options from the bus station by the Nova Scotian Hotel, similar to the reginal bus option from the airport to Downtown Halifax. Are these buses the only way, or if they are not, are other options better?

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

Sorry if this is the wrong thread, or if I should make a new one in the General section, but I am going to Halifax later this month for a few days, for the second time, and want to explore the area more this time around. I would love to go to Prince Edward Island, actually. Is Maritime Bus the best way to get there other than renting a car?

If I don't go to PEI, I want to go to Lunenburg and/or Windsor. It looks like there are regional bus options from the bus station by the Nova Scotian Hotel, similar to the reginal bus option from the airport to Downtown Halifax. Are these buses the only way, or if they are not, are other options better?

Lunenburg has tour buses and regional shuttle vans (which I know nothing about) but otherwise would require car rental. Windsor and PEI have Maritime bus service which tends to work fine. Nothing glamorous but perfectly functional as long as their schedule is compatible with yours. However, their stops aren't always at the most convenient locations and smaller communities don't always have many local transportation options. So be sure that you can get around once you arrive. Otherwise, renting a car is the best bet.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Unless the cost of a rental car is a problem, I would suggest to take that option. Time is short on vacation, and it allows you to work on your schedule, plus it opens up so many options for you to visit places and see/experience things that a bus just won't take you to.

For times that you just want to experience Halifax, a car isn't necessary, as there are many bus options - or just walk, as Halifax downtown really isn't that big. You can also rent bikes downtown, I believe, if you want to go that way.

Hope you enjoy your stay!

[xzmattzx]

Thanks for the help so far. Renting a car is about $60 per day, which is fairly cost prohibitive. The Confederation Bridge is a $50 toll. The Maritime Bus to Charlottetown is about $55 each way.

So, I think it has become clear that if I decide to go to Charlottetown, then the Maritime Bus is best, and if I decide to go to Lunenburg and Windsor, then a rental car is the best option.

[MonctonRad]

Keep in mind that $60:rental car cost is in Canadian dollars, which is only about $42 US.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Even PEI would be better explored with a rental car, but if you only want to see Charlottetown, the bus plan should be just fine. It really depends upon how much time you have and how much of the island you want to see.

Best of luck with your planning! I’m sure you will enjoy it, no matter which way you go.

[MeEtc]

Halifax Transit has now received (at least) its first electric bus. I saw it on the roads about a week ago with fleet number 2000 on it. Looks almost identical on the outside as the existing Nova diesels, with added height on the roof. Didn't get a picture, as I was driving.

[TheGreenBastard]

Originally Posted by MeEtc

Halifax Transit has now received (at least) its first electric bus. I saw it on the roads about a week ago with fleet number 2000 on it. Looks almost identical on the outside as the existing Nova diesels, with added height on the roof. Didn't get a picture, as I was driving.

The bus was actually delivered in early December 2023.

https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/halifax-transit/zero-emission-bus-project

http://www.comedyrapnewsuspa24com.uspa24.com/bericht-23902/halifax-transits-first-electric-bus.html

and they were testing the electric vehicle as early as February 2023.

https://ca.linkedin.com/posts/nova-bus_halifax-electricbus-test-activity-7031294203674419200-KQi8

https://twitter.com/hfxtransit/status/1618964561180200961

https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/comments/11ci69y/nova_bus_ev_bus_testing/

https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/comments/1127nn5/electric_test_bus_in_halifax/

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

20240902_142621 by AJ Forsythe, on Flickr

[OldDartmouthMark]

Nice maintenance, HRM!

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Annual Service Plan - 2024/25

Nothing big or surprising planned for this year. Routes 1, 10 and 192 should be implemented which will complete "Moving Forward Together Plan" (except the dead-in-the-water Middle Sackville Express). Public feedback for a new plan for standard service will begin sometime later this year.

Signs are up stating the Route 1, 10, and 192 changes are happening on November 18th. Halifax Transit - Service Adjustments will have the schedules sometime in early November.

I haven't heard anything on the new transit plan. With no plan in effect and no BRT funding announcement from the province I think next year's Annual Service Plan will be quite limited.

I wonder when HT will start using the new 107 Extension. A Highfield - Cobequid route would be quite successful I imagine.

[IanWatson]

Couple of transit tidbits:

• AllNS reports today that HRM, with the financial assistance of the Province, has purchased some of the homes on the southeast corner of Robie and North for the future BRT lane.
• Electric busses have started to roll out. Haven't managed to ride one yet but have seen them driving Route 29 this week.

[IanWatson]

Finally got a ride on the new electric buses!

The Good

• Quiet! There's still some noise, but it's much much more pleasant.
• Much more comfortable ride, with smooth acceleration and decelleration.
• No more smelly fumes when you're standing next to the bus.
• They have new seats with a textured rubbery plastic. They feel more hygenic than the cloth seats but aren't slippery like the other plastic seats.

The Bad

• Like early car EVs, they are very much a diesel bus platform with a battery system shoehorned in, instead of fundamentally redesigning the vehicle around the differences and advantages of batteries. The interior layout is still the same, with the big raised platform at the back.
• They still have the terrible rear door sensor that no one can figure out and only works half the time.

All in all, very exciting and a big quality of life improvement for the city. However, I still look forward to the day that manufacturers redesign their platforms and we get purpose-built EV buses.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Couple of transit tidbits:

• AllNS reports today that HRM, with the financial assistance of the Province, has purchased some of the homes on the southeast corner of Robie and North for the future BRT lane.

Interesting how the province may or may not bury the JRTA report, and is still publicly non-committal re: BRT funding (despite announcing zillions in other transport projects lately, mainly highways). Yet the province is now also financing BRT ROW acquisitions? Does the province just want to dole out support in smaller increments to avoid a big announement like "NS gov gives X dollars to HRM"? Or is it just that there's no long-term strategy at all?

Seems odd.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

A story in AllNS this morning references a commitment to funding a commuter rail study and transportation into and out of the city but no reference to LRT or transportation within the city.

[OldDartmouthMark]

From the report posted by q12 in the 102 upgrade thread, part of the province's plan includes: • Assessing options and routes for light rail

Perhaps they are assisting in the acquisition of BRT ROW with the idea that it will eventually be part of a provincial LRT system? Perhaps they are partnering with HRM so that they have a coordinated approach to LRT development? Maybe the city asked them nicely?

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

I see that HRM has issued a tender for a refresh of the existing Mumford bus terminal. And in the category of 'everything with HRM just takes too Freaking LONG', a quick google reveals that a 'shape your city' event was held in 2017 on this topic. Is it a waste to spend more money on a terminal soon to be replaced? Who knows? If only we had local media to cover such things 'cause AP and Reuters aren't likely to. I'd pay good money for it.

[Keith P.]

News today about the new head of transit. I had not heard that the former chief Dave Reage has been kicked upstairs.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot...ss-is-taking-the-bus-every-day-1.7479717