News Release

Late night weekend ferry service to be maintained

(Tuesday, August 7, 2012) - Metro Transit ferry service will be maintained on Friday and Saturday nights, Regional Council decided today.

The decision means the boats will continue to ferry passengers across the harbour until midnight, as they do now, with the last ferry leaving Halifax at 11:45 pm.

“We heard from residents and business owners across our communities that nighttime weekend ferry operations are vital to a vibrant urban core and we should be finding new ways to encourage citizens and visitors to take advantage of this unique service,” said Mayor Peter Kelly.

Today’s decision represents a change to the approved 2012-13 operating budget for Metro Transit so the $11,000 cost for the remainder of this fiscal year will be absorbed as part of the overall surplus or deficit for transit.

Other service level changes included in the approved 2012/13 Annual Service Plan will begin on Aug. 27. These include:

• Reducing the frequency of the Alderney ferry service to every 30 minutes from noon until 2 pm on weekdays.
  
• Remove service after 10:30 pm on weekdays (except for Friday), with last ferry departing Halifax at 10:15 pm
  
• Remove ferry service before 11:30 am on Sundays
  
• Remove service after 10:30 pm on holidays with last ferry departing Halifax at 10:15 pm
• Remove the 9:37 a.m. trip departing Woodside on weekdays

• Remove the 9:52 a.m. trip departing Halifax on weekdays

Service reductions represent service where ridership does not meet Metro Transit delivery standards approved by Council as part of transit’s Five-Year Strategic Operations Plan.

 

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Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010