The new 14-passenger bus with 16 secheduled stops will run seven days a week and comes with a $200,000 price tag. The bus itself was $150,000 and then there was the purchase of the Smart Card system that allows passengers to get on and off without having to dig for the right change. The new high-tech cashless service also means customers can reload the card from home by calling the town hall or online using the BEA Smart Card website.
The Smart Card system was pricey at $30,000. But, Mayor Pam Mood says the benefits far outweigh the costs.
“We have an aging population, as does the rest of Nova Scotia. We want to be sure that all of our citizens can get to where need to go,” said Mood.
Mood adds they had to hire two drivers to handle the shifts as well.
The service will run seven days a week and stop sixteen times on a scheduled route through the town.
Mood says, not only does it allow an older demographic to get around, but it’s also allows NSCC students to contribute to reducing the town’s carbon footprint.
“Just the ability for the students to be able to hop on the bus and go there and not take their vehicle is great,” emphasized Mood.
The bus will be up and running Monday, February 1st at 7:00am.
