New Bus Service Connects South Shore Towns With The Province And Beyond

A regional transportation system has become a reality.

The Maritime Bus service which will make three daily runs from the communities of Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay to Halifax made its first run Monday.

Municipal and provincial officials were on hand, including Nova Scotia’s Minister for Communities, Culture and Heritage Leo Glavine.

Glavine announced the province will be providing the service operators, Maritime Bus with $385,000 for the pilot project.

“This is what community transportation and it’s network is designed now, to make a real difference in the lives of people through providing this transportation.”

Glavine hopes the 18-month project can act as template to provide public transportation to other parts of the province.

Province investing over $300k in regional bus service pic.twitter.com/u5ZIb2DPlD

— Ed Halverson (@edwardhalverson) September 10, 2018

Lunenburg MLA and long time advocate for regional bus service Suzanne Lohnes-Croft is pleased to see the service in action.

“It’s going to connect all of us to Halifax and beyond. Maritime Bus goes throughout the Maritimes. It’s going to be great for students, it’s going to be great for families, tourists. This is incredible news.”

Maritime Bus President Mike Cassidy says their hope is the service will be self-financing long before they need to access the government funds.

Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell says the issue of mobility is an emotional one for many.

“Some people are housebound without transit. This is an opportunity for them not just to go to the mall or get to the city or get to an appointment. But it’s an opportunity to connect with citizens that they otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Mitchell says transit is literally, a lifeline for people.