GC No. 010/05
For release August 22, 2005

METROLINK LIMITED STOP
SERVICE LAUNCHED AS PART OF
URBAN TRANSPORTATION SHOWCASE PROGRAM

Halifax - Officials and transit users gathered today for the Launch and Inaugural Run of Phase I of Halifax Regional Municipality's new limited stop, direct MetroLink service from the Portland Hills Terminal in Dartmouth to the downtown core. The service introduction marks the culmination of two years of planning after HRM was awarded funding through Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program, in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia. It is designed to attract new riders to public transit and ultimately help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The Urban Transportation Showcase Program is a five year program created to demonstrate, evaluate and promote effective strategies to reduce GHG emissions from urban transportation. Through this program, Transport Canada is contributing $4.1 M towards the establishment of the MetroLink service.

"Transport Canada is committed to working in partnership with provinces and municipalities to demonstrate and evaluate a range of sustainable urban transportation strategies", said federal Transport Minister Jean-C Lapierre. Innovative projects such as MetroLink are giving Canadians convenient sustainable transportation options and helping us achieve our goal of reducing GHG emissions."

HRM’s Rapid Transit Showcase is a $13.3 million project which entails the establishment of two MetroLink corridors using Transit Signal Priority and limited station stops to create competitive trip times. The new service will utilize 20 new buses in two service corridors. Other features of the new MetroLink service include passenger comfort amenities on the buses such as air conditioning, highway-coach style, padded seating; bike racks and large Park & Ride Lots at the terminals, connected with Bikeways, to encourage use of alternative transportation.

The Province of Nova Scotia is a Showcase partner along with HRM and Transport Canada in the MetroLink program. The NS Department of Transportation and Public Works contributed $785,000, while the N.S. Department of Energy provided $80,000 for the Showcase. "This is a project that will go a long way towards encouraging transportation alternatives for Nova Scotians while creating a healthier and greener province," said Energy Minister Cecil Clarke. "The Province is pleased to support this initiative that will reduce the production of harmful emissions and help conserve fuel energy."

Halifax Regional Municipality has contributed an additional $8.06 million towards the project. TRAX of the Ecology Action Centre, a local organization which promotes the use of alternative modes of transportation is also a public education partner in the project.

At the launch, HRM Mayor Peter Kelly said " It is a very proud day as we introduce this much awaited new form of higher transit service to our region. Improvements to our municipality’s transportation system and ensuring a healthy, sustainable community are two of the key elements identified in HRM’s proposed Regional Plan. We have been able to make some of these improvements to our transit system and our community much more quickly than we anticipated, through the support of Transport Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia in the development of the MetroLink service under the Urban Transportation Showcase Program".

Phase II of the MetroLink service is expected to be introduced in Sackville in the Winter of 2006.

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