News Release

Metro Transit Becomes Metro Transit

Tuesday, July 15, 2014 (Halifax, NS) – As part of the continuing rollout of the new Halifax brand strategy, Metro Transit has officially changed its name to Metro Transit and begun branding its buses with the new visual treatment.

The new name was announced at an event in Grand Parade today, July 15, where the first newly branded Metro Transit bus was unveiled to the public.

“It’s one thing to see the Halifax brand on paper but to see it in full colour on the side of a 40-foot bus, it’s quite something,” said Mayor Mike Savage. “The brand has generated a lot of interest, and it’s been great to watch as it has taken hold, with many residents and businesses across the region making it their own. I think that enthusiasm is only going to grow when people start seeing this and other Metro Transit buses like it around the city.”

Regional Council approved the Halifax brand strategy in the spring. The branding is now being implemented throughout the organization, including Transportation and Public Works vehicles and new community signs. As part of the strategy, staff also committed to facilitate adoption of the brand in a number of key departments, including Metro Transit.

The timing for the name change couldn’t be better, as Metro Transit embarks on a multi-year transformation that will see transit services delivered in more advanced and innovative ways, says director Eddie Robar.

“Every single day in this region, residents take more than 100,000 trips on 300 buses and four harbour ferries,” said Mr. Robar. “We are committed to making every one of those trips as smooth and reliable as possible. This name change is the first in a series of steps that will improve Metro Transit’s ability to meet the changing needs of our passengers and to deliver on the municipality’s brand promise to be bold and forward-thinking.”

Changes to Metro Transit in the coming years will include a complete system redesign, two new harbour ferry vessels, a new terminal building on Lacewood Drive and significant technology upgrades that will improve the way passengers plan their trips and experience transit.

The bus unveiled today is the first of several newly branded vehicles that will go into operation in the coming days. Over the next year the plan is to apply the Metro Transit branding on up to 70 buses were already scheduled for maintenance.

Implementation of the name change will begin immediately and will be incorporated as opportunities become available. Working within existing budgets for maintenance and repair, Metro Transit will be incorporated into all facets of the municipal transit service, including more bus exteriors and the exteriors of ferry vessels, signage at terminals, operator uniforms, bus stop signage, Metro Transit’s presence on www.halifax.ca and all advertising.

For more information on Metro Transit, go to www.halifax.ca and for details of Halifax’s brand strategy, please visit www.HalifaxDefined.ca.

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Media Contact:

Jennifer Stairs
Halifax Regional Municipality
Public Affairs
902-476-5975
stewarj@halifax.ca