Eager riders stepped onto the bus this morning for the new express transit between the Town of Cornwall and the City of Charlottetown. The Province of Prince Edward Island has invested $18,000 into this initiative through the Public Transit Capital Trust.
“I am very pleased with the level of co-operation that has taken place to set up this new service. I hope that we will see many people using the bus over the four month pilot,” said Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour. “This is a great opportunity for commuters to discover the benefits of using public transit.”
Monthly ($90) and weekly ($25) passes may be purchased in advance at the Cornwall Town Office or riders can step on at any time for only $3.00. The bus route includes drop-off and pickup locations at the Cornwall Save-Easy and the fire hall, or people can park their vehicles and board the bus at the town hall or the Civic Centre. In Charlottetown, locations include the Charlottetown Mall, UPEI, the Shaw Building and the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Currently, only one bus is running the route, but if the demand is high, a second bus may be added.
“The route and the scheduling may be adjusted over the next four months,” said Cornwall Mayor Patrick MacFadyen. “When people come into purchase their pass, they tell us where they want to get picked up and dropped off; the route will reflect the needs of our residents.”
In addition to providing a transit service to residents and reducing the traffic congestion on the North River Causeway, the project also includes a research component to determine the level of interest in an ongoing year round transit system between Cornwall and Charlottetown. The $18,000 in funding invested by the Provincial Government will provide for this four month project. The study will examine the systems marketability, necessary resources, appropriate scheduling and public opinion.
For more information on bus schedules, contact 902-566-2354. The transit system is an environmentally friendly means of transportation.
The Public Transit Capital Trust is a joint initiative between the Federal and Provincial Government; it is solely administered by the Province.