Late night ferries cut on weekdays, saved for weekends
Posted Aug 8, 2012 05:48:41 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Regional councillors have agreed on a compromise to cut late night ferry service during the week, but keep it on weekends.
Metro Transit wanted to end harbour ferry crossings at 10:15 every night, cut weekday service to every half-hour between noon and 2 p.m, and delay the start of service on Sundays until 11:30 a.m.
Transit officials say ridership isn’t high enough during those times to justify service – but urban councillors said the cuts don’t make any sense at a time when the municipality is trying to get more people to give up their cars.
“How are we going to bring about a better transit service and ferry service if we’re cutting?” asked Councillor Debbie Hum. “Where’s that balance or that point where we increase ridership because we’re running an efficient and effective service?”
Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) pointed out that a recent survey of residents showed transit is a pressing concern for 61 per cent of respondents.
“They talked about more ferries, more buses, and here we are, we’re already going against their major concern,” she said. “The regional plan talks about the Capital district, on the Halifax side, on the Dartmouth side, more people living there, your worship.”
But other councillors said there’s a need to ensure transit investments result in a service that’s getting used.
“No one’s saying just invest in transit at any cost, I don’t care if nobody uses it, keep it going,” said Coun. Tim Outhit. “We’ve never had that in any survey, I’ve never had it in any email or phone call.”
Transit officials say ridership levels on the ferries during the hours in question fall well below the threshold needed to justify the service, although McCluskey pointed out that the ferries recover more of its costs through fares than buses.
A staff report suggested current service levels for the ferry could be maintained, but but only with a commensurate increase in funding or a fare hike.
