Halifax Transit bus makes a stop on Spring Garden Road. (Photo: Steve MacArthur)

Transit operators across Nova Scotia struggled throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and are continuing to do so, in response, the Nova Scotia government is investing $10.2 million across 20 rural transit operators.

One of the programs receiving funds are Chester Community Wheels (CCW), which will get $30,728.

CCW Transportation Coordinator Michelle Hadell says they primarily rely on donations, grants, and government funding all of which saw declines through the pandemic and as such an injection of cash was much needed. “We are really grateful for this investment and we’ll put the money to good use, helping offset rising costs and hopefully to make some investments to improve our program down the line,” said Hadell.

CCW like many of the other 19 transit operators selected to receive funding offer a vital service to their communities, often being the only form of public transportation available. As a large portion of rural transit users in rural areas are seniors most of the rural transit programs also include accessible transit options for those in wheelchairs.

Larger transit operators that run fixed routes were also included in this funding, with the largest recipient being Halifax Transit which will receive $8,655,876.

Full list of transit operators receiving funding

Community Transit Operators

• Antigonish Community Transit Society, $64,052
• BayRides (St. Margaret’s Bay Community Transit), $49,244
• CHAD Transit, Pictou County, $96,167
• Chester Community Wheels, $30,728
• Colchester Transportation Cooperative Limited, $68,233
• Cumberland County Transportation Society, $47,041
• East Hants Community Rider, $65,882
• HOPE Dial-a-Ride, Yarmouth, $76,909
• Kings Point-To-Point Transit, $88,854
• La Coopérative de Transport de Chéticamp Ltée, $53,392
• Le Transport de Clare, $88,405
• Musgo Rider, $53,430
• Musgo Valley-Sheet Harbour, $34,659
• Queens Transit Society, $46,617
• Sou’West Nova Transit, $42,560
• Strait Area Transit, $41,436
• Trans County Transportation Society, Annapolis Valley, $53,030
• Transit Association of Guysborough, $15,012
• Victoria County Transit, $30,083
• West Hants Dial-a-Ride, $52,368

Fixed Route Operators

• Halifax Transit, $8,655,876
• Transit CBRM, $359,809
• Kings Transit Authority (Grand Pre-Weymouth), $332,392
• Bridgewater Transit, $113,839
• Yarmouth Transit (town), $108,170
• Pictou County Transit (Stellarton and New Glasgow), $109,722
• Antigonish Community Transit Society, $101,620
• Strait Area Transit (Inverness), $101,472