Halifax Transit Purchases 60 Electric Buses, Extends Zero Emissions Commitment to New Terminal

Halifax commuters will soon take cleaner, quieter routes as the city takes a big step forward in plans to buy 210 electric buses by 2028

Halifax Transit will add 60 electric buses to its transit fleet, thanks to a new funding commitment from all levels of government.

Announced on July 15, Halifax Transit will receive a combined $ 112 million for buses, the first in Atlantic Canada, and to help expand and modernize the Ragged Lake Transit Center. The modernization includes the addition of solar panels and will make the transit center a net zero installation.

The move reflects another recent announcement by the transit company to add an electric ferry and build two net zero terminals to go along with it.

“The electrification of the Halifax Transit fleet is essential to our commitments to climate action,” Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Mike Savage said in a press release. “Today’s investment brings us very close to modernizing a transit service that will reliably and sustainably meet the needs of a growing community and make transit a better choice for a growing community. larger number of people.

More specifically, the Government of Canada is investing $ 44.8 million under the public transit infrastructure component of the Investing in Canada program. The Government of Nova Scotia is contributing approximately $ 37.7 million and HRM is investing $ 29.8 million.

“At the forefront of the electrification of public transport”

According to the press release, the project will align with HRM’s Transforming Transit strategy. The project aims to make public transit more accessible and environmentally friendly, in addition to helping the municipality, province and country meet climate goals.

“We are aggressively pursuing our actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Expanding the Halifax Transit fleet to include new electric buses will not only improve transit capacity, but will also help us meet our ambitious climate change goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 ” Premier Iain Rankin said in the statement.

“This puts us at the forefront of the electrification of transit in Atlantic Canada.

Construction is expected to begin at the transit hub next year, with 37 buses currently en route and seven more scheduled to arrive in 2022. Although Halifax Transit has not specified when the others will arrive, the Halifax Regional Council has approved it. last year a plan to buy 210 electric buses to electrify more than half of its fleet by 2028.