Cuts to harbour ferry service will be delayed
Posted May 2, 2012 05:24:49 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Cuts to the Halifax-Dartmouth ferry service have been put on hold – for now.
Regional councillors have voted to maintain the current operating hours until Aug. 31, curtailing Metro Transit’s plan to save money by reducing the hours.
The plan called for the service to end at 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and to delay the morning start until 11:30 a.m. on Sundays. Metro Transit said the overall savings would come in around $423,000 per year.
The debate over maintaining the service was divisive and pitted peninsula councillors against those who’d had transit services cut in their districts under the latest budget.
“If there are funds available to reinstate this, why aren’t there funds to look at reinstating existing services in Sackville, where there are now alternatives?” said Coun. Brad Johns (Middle-Upper Sackville-Lucasville.) “Why aren’t there funds available to look at what was promised to the community of Lucasville in looking at starting a service there?”
Coun. Reg Rankin was also opposed to maintaining the current hours, saying residents in his Timberlea-Prospect district are losing bus service.
“It was fair, based on service standards,” he said. “And now there’s an effort to come in and try to make a special service for a special service.”
Supporters of the existing ferry service said maintaining the hours doesn’t benefit any one district, saying the harbour ferries are an integral link between Dartmouth and Halifax.
The councillor for downtown Halifax also emphasized the need to maintain services in order to foster growth in the downtown core.
“When people start moving into the downtown core, and amenities aren’t here, your phone’s going to be ringing more than mine,” said Coun. Dawn Sloane. “I’ll be directing them to you.”
Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) pointed out that she regularly sees buses driving around with only a handful of passengers, and suggested other services may not be worth the reinvestment.
“Sure, we need a bus to the airport, and we’re putting it there, but is it going to be feasible, your worship?” she asked.
Metro Transit director Eddie Robar told council the ferry service can be maintained for the next four months because of savings from vacant positions. A staff report is expected in June on the long-term prospects.
