No. H033/10
For release - March 22, 2010
CHESTER, NOVA SCOTIA — Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore St. Margaret's, and Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Community Services for Nova Scotia, on behalf of Ramona Jennex, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, along with Sandra Meister, coordinator of Chester Community Wheels, today announced a new accessible bus for residents of the Municipality of Chester, Nova Scotia.
"The Government of Canada is proud to partner with our provincial and municipal colleagues to expand and strengthen transit options for Canadian communities," said MP Keddy. "This new bus will provide safe, reliable and inclusive transportation services for residents of the Municipality of the District of Chester."
"Public transit not only provides a safe, convenient way for residents to get around from place to place, it makes transportation needs more affordable," said Minister Peterson-Rafuse. "Investing in organizations such as Community Wheels helps build a better, healthier environment and sustainable communities for our future."
With a 14-passenger capacity, or room for three wheelchairs and eight passengers, the new accessible bus will help accommodate the growing number of residents who require this transit service in Chester. The new bus will provide transportation services twice a week and will increase the wheelchair-accessible services being offered locally.
"The Municipality of Chester Transportation Society's Community Wheels program was launched in 2007. Expansion of this project has necessitated the need for a new, more reliable and efficient accessible vehicle," said Ms. Meister. "Through the support of several funding partners, we have made this need a reality."
The Chester Community Wheels program received a total of $104,665 to purchase the new accessible bus. The Government of Canada contributed $63,000 from the Public Transit Capital Trust, while the Government of Nova Scotia provided $27,000 in funding through its Accessible Transportation Assistance Program. In addition, the Municipality of Chester allocated $7,665 and the United Way of Lunenburg County contributed the remaining $7,000 towards the purchase the new bus.
In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada provided $500 million for the Public Transit Capital Trust, which helps to fund public transit projects such as rapid transit, transit buses, and high-occupancy vehicle and bicycle lanes.
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Contacts:
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Jennifer Knickle
Office of Gerald Keddy, MP
South Shore-St. Margaret’s
902-527-0622
Deborah Bayer
Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Secretariat
902-424-0112
Sandra Meister
Chester Community Wheels Program
902-275-5585
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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