News Release

CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA GOVERNMENTS CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF RAGGED LAKE TRANSIT CENTRE

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Friday, August 20, 2010 - Haligonians are benefiting from improved public transit thanks to the completion of the Ragged Lake Transit Centre. This new sustainable facility built to LEED Silver standards, will help accommodate the additional maintenance, storage, and operational needs to allow for expansion in Halifax Regional Municipality’s Metro Transit service.

Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margaret's, and Mat Whynott, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville, on behalf of the Honourable Ramona Jennex, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, along with his worship, Peter Kelly, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), and representatives from the Canadian Urban Transit Association and Metro Transit, gathered today to celebrate the official grand opening of the Ragged Lake Transit Centre.

“Improved public transit is an important factor in enhancing the quality of life for Haligonians and visitors to the city,” said MP Keddy on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Canada’s Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities “With the completion of this new facility, Metro Transit will be able to provide more efficient service and increase the number of transit users on city buses.”

MLA Mat Whynott, on behalf of Minister Jennex, said “This new facility is allowing the expansion of transit services within the Halifax Regional municipality. Our government supports improved access to public transit as a way to make life better for families in every region.”

Mayor Peter Kelly said the state-of-the-art facility marks the beginning of a new era for transit service in the region. “Starting immediately, we can begin providing more accessible routes, improved connections and expanded services to the residents of our community,” he said.

The Mayor noted Regional Council has approved the purchase of 45 new 60-foot articulated buses and that, with the opening of the Ragged Lake Centre, the first of those passenger-efficient vehicles will be going on the road shortly.

The new Ragged Lake Transit Centre will complement the existing Metro Transit facility and a smaller garage, both located in Burnside Industrial Park, Dartmouth, which have currently reached capacity with over 280 buses.

The completion of the new Centre will allow for the operation of an additional 150 buses, with space ultimately for another 50 transit vehicles. The new Transit Centre will also help to cut down on operational costs, which presently must be incurred by running out-of-service buses back and forth across the harbour bridges. This will help lessen the amount of commuter traffic and result in fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The completed 180,000 square-foot complex on a 16-acre site features two buildings: one 122,000 square-foot Operations Centre and one 58,000 square foot Service Centre for bus maintenance. The total cost for this project was $28 million with a contribution of $16.6 million from the federal 2006 Public Transit Capital Trust.

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Contact:

John Babcock
Press Secretary
Office of Canada’s Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700

Lori Patterson
Metro Transit, Transportation & Public Works
Halifax Regional Municipality
Phone: 902-490-6609
Cell: 902-476-5975