Halifax Transit
Metro Transit | |
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File:Metro-Transit-Logo.png | |
Info | |
Transit type |
Bus Paratransit Ferry |
Number of lines |
57 Regular Routes 3 MetroLink Routes 3 Community Routes 2 Harbour Ferries 2 MetroX Routes |
Daily ridership | 50,000(2008) |
Chief executive | Eddie Robar |
Headquarters |
200 Ilsley Avenue Dartmouth, Nova Scotia |
Website | http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/ |
Operation | |
Began operation | January 1st, 1979 |
Operator(s) | Halifax Regional Municipality |
Number of vehicles | 315 |
Metro Transit is the largest public transport agency operating buses and ferries in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). They provide service to Halifax, Dartmouth and the surronding suburbs.
History
Metro Transit was created in 1979 by merging of different transit companies from the Halifax/Dartmouth regions. Halifax Transit Corporation and Dartmouth Transit Service were merged in order to provide a more reliable service in the region. Though officially under the name of Metro Transit, Metro Transit only began operation of the company in early 1980. In the early years, buses were still being stored in the predecessor garages, then Metro Transit opened their own in 1981. A new garage was built in Burnside and opened in March 1981.
Metro Transit was one of the first companies to order the Classic Model, made in 1983 by GM. In 1984 Metro Transit experimented with a Saab Scanias, a funded test with the provincial government.
In 1992, Metro Transit ordered an articulated version of the classic model. This model was first delivered at the end of 1992, early 1993, by MCI. A total of 7 MCI articulated classics were delivered before the portion of MCI which made transit vehicles was sold to NovaBus, another 7 were made by NovaBus in 1993. Shortly after the last Metro Transit articulated classic, NovaBus discontinued the model.
Financial difficulties hit Metro Transit hard between 1996 and 1999, where budget cuts forced them to decrease service. No buses were ordered between this period and they had trouble providing service for the ever growing demand. In 1999, they received their first ever low floor buses. 10 buses were ordered from NovaBus in 1999 and 4 more in 2000. After receiving these low-floor buses, routes 3 and 7 were made a 100% Low Floor bus service, followed by the 54 the following year. Due to reliability issues, the 1999 and 2000 buses wheelchair ramp stopped working, therefore Metro Transit removed the wheelchair symbol off the 1999 buses, but never removed it from the 2000 buses.
In 2002, Metro Transit preferred NFI D40LF model. They ordered 32 in 2002 and an additional 145 in later years. Most of these buses were ordered to replace older buses, that were retired. Though this big order, did not help Metro Transit with the lack of vehicles and service, due to the increasing demand.
Fare Structure
2013 Fare Structure
Regular Service
Fare Media | Ticket Type | Validity Period | Regular Fare | Reduced Fare | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5-15 years 65+ years |
Student | |||||
Regular Cash | 1 ticket | 90 minutes | 2.50 $ | 1.75 $ | 2.50 $ | |
10 Tickets | Each Ticket: 90 minutes |
20.00 $ | 14.50 $ | $20.00 $ | ||
MetroCard | Monthly Pass | 1 Calander Month | 78.00 $ | 58.00 $ | 70.00 $ |
MetroLink Service
Fare Media | Ticket Type | Validity Period | Regular Fare | Reduced Fare | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5-15 years 65+ years |
Student | ||||||
With ticket, MetroPass, UPass or transfer | |||||||
Regular Cash | 1 ticket | 90 minutes | 3.00 $ | 2.25 $ | 3.00 $ | ||
Add 0.50 $ | |||||||
MetroLink Pass | Monthly Pass | 1 Calander Month | 94.50 $ | N/A |
MetroX Service
Fare Media | Ticket Type | Validity Period | Regular Fare | Reduced Fare | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5-15 years 65+ years |
Student | ||||||
With ticket, MetroPass, UPass or transfer | With MetroLink pass or transfer | ||||||
Regular Cash | 1 ticket | 90 minutes | 3.50 $ | 2.75 $ | 3.50 $ | ||
Add 1.00 $ | Add 0.50 $ | ||||||
MetroLink Pass | Monthly Pass | 1 Calander Month | 111.00 $ | N/A |
Network
Bus Routes
Route Range | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-79 | 80-89 | |
MetroLink | MetroX | Community Transit |
Regular Service
Metro Transit operates 57 Regular Routes in the regions Halifax Regional Municipality (Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville). Other areas covered include rural areas between (Eastern Passage, North Preston, Cherry Brook, Tantallon and Herring Cove). Bus routes are numbered depending on the service type or by the region they serve.
MetroLink Service
Metro Transit operates 3 MetroLink Routes which connect downtown Halifax Terminal (Scotia Square bus terminal) with Portland Hills and Sackville Terminals. Another MetroLink Route runs between Portland Hills terminal and Woodside Ferry Terminal. All MetroLink routes are numbered in the 100 series and use uniquely NFI D40LF buses. The buses assigned to this route feature a distinctive livery and feature transit priority measures to speed up service.
MetroX Rural Express
Metro Transit presently operates two MetroX routes, with future plans to add one more. MetroX route 330 provides service from Downtown Halifax (Scotia Square Terminal) to rural areas along the province's 100 series highways, while MetroX route 320 serves the Halifax Airport. The MetroX routes are numbered in the 300 series with the second digit representing the highway it serves. Buses that serve MetroX routes also feature a distinctive livery. Route 330 is served by Glaval Bus Titans, while route 320 is served by Nova Bus LFS equipped with luggage racks and air conditioning. Bike racks are available on both routes.
Community Routes
Metro Transit operates a rural bus system, and was given the name of Community Routes. These routes have no route numbers nor do they have a designated bus stop. These community routes provide service to Beaver Bank, Porter Lake, East Preston and Sambro. All community routes are served by NFI D30LF, except during busier times where NFI D40LF's are used. The Samboro route is served by Glaval Bus Titans.
Access-A-Bus
Access-A-Bus is the equivalent to paratransit in other cities. This service is a dial-a-ride system for the elderly and handicapped residents of the city. Access-A-Bus is served by 20 cutaways.
Ferry Routes
Metro Transit provides 2 ferry routes. Operating between Halifax (Lower Water terminal) and Dartmouth (Alderney Landing) which operates daily using 2 ferries. The other route connects downtown Halifax and Woodside. The second routes operates Monday through Friday during Rush Hour Only and operates using 1 ferry.
Route Range | |
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Dartmouth-Halifax | Woodside-Halifax |
Fleet Roster
Active Bus Fleet
Thumbnail | Fleet number range | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
505 to 507 | 1999 | NFI | D30LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B300R |
| |
516 to 525 | 2009 | GM Glavel Bus | Titan | GM Duramax 6.6L | Allison 2200 |
| |
526 to 534 | 2012 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1400B |
| |
535 to 540 | 2013 | Frightliner Glavel Bus | Legacy | Cummins ISB | Allison 2200 |
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600 to 619 | 2005 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R |
| |
715 to 716 | 2009 | NFI | DE60LFR | Cummins ISL | Allison EP 50 Hybrid System | ||
717 to 741 | 2010 | Nova Bus | LFS Artic | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1700B | ||
742 to 761 | 2012 | Nova Bus | LFS Artic | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1700B | ||
948 to 952 | 1990 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allsion V731 | ||
953 to 966 | 1994 | Nova Bus | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allsion V731-D | ||
967 to 974 | 1995 | Nova Bus | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Allison B400R | ||
975 to 985 | 1996 | Nova Bus | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Allison B400R |
| |
986 to 996 | 1999 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISC | Allison B400R | ||
997 to 1000 | 2000 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISC | Allison B400R | ||
1001 to 1032 | 2002 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
1033 to 1060 | 2004 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
1061 to 1082 | 2005 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
1083 to 1107 | 2006 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
1108 to 1131 | 2007 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
1132 to 1153 | 2008 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
1154 to 1159 | 2009 | NFI | D40LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
1160 to 1161 | 2012 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1400B | ||
1162 to 1183 | 2013 | NFI | XD40 "Xcelsior" | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R |
Retired Bus Fleet
Thumbnail | Fleet number range | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
201 to 212 | 1984 | SAAB-Scania | CN112A | ||||
308 | 1985 | OBI | Orion 01.501 | Detroit Diesel 6V53N | Allison MT643 | ||
501 to 504 | 1981 | OBI | Orion 01.501 | Detroit Diesel 6V52N | Allison MT643 | ||
510 to 515 | 1981/1982 | GMDD | T6H-5307N New Look | Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 | ||
700 to 710 | 1993 | MCI | TC60-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison VR731 | ||
711 to 714 | 1993 | NovaBus | TC60-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allsion VR731 |
| |
857 to 869 | 1982 | GMDD | T6H-5307N New Look | Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 | ||
870 to 881 | 1983 | GMDD | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 | ||
882 to 895 | 1985 | GMDD | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92 | Allison V731 | ||
896 to 910 | 1986 | GMDD | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92 | Allsion V730 | ||
911 to 920 | 1987 | GMDD | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92 | Allison V731 | ||
921 to 928 | 1987 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92 | Allsion V730 | ||
929 to 940 | 1988 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allsion V730 | ||
941 to 947 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allsion V731 |
Active Ferry Fleet
Retired Ferry Fleet
Thumbnail | Name | Year | Manufacturer | Engine | Propellers | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dartmouth II | 1956 | |||||
Halifax II | 1956 |
Garages
Name | Location | Type of Vehicules | Notes |
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Burnside Transit Centre | 200 Ilsley Avenue Burnside Instrial Park, Dartmouth |
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Ragged Lake Transit Centre | Prospect Road Ragged Lake Business Park, Halifax |
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Thornhill Centre | Thornhill Drive Burnside Instrial Park, Dartmouth |
Closed in August 2010. |