[News] Expanded Community-Based Transportation Services for Lunenburg County

More residents in Lunenburg County will be able to access community-based transportation services thanks to new provincial funding.

The Province is investing more than $290,000 to help Lunenburg County Wheels expand its service area for pre-booked, door-to-door transportation. The funds will be used to cover operational expenses and the purchase of new, fully accessible vehicles.

“We know how important local transportation services are to communities, and we know that here – and across Nova Scotia – demand for these services continues to grow,” said Kim Masland, Minister of Public Works. “This investment will make it possible for more members of the Lunenburg community to get access to safe, affordable, and reliable transportation.”

Lunenburg County Wheels is a recent expansion of the Senior Wheels Association of Bridgewater, which served seniors and people with physical disabilities living within a seven-kilometre radius of the Town of Bridgewater.

The organization has become an inclusive transportation service for all citizens, regardless of age or ability, and covers a larger area. It continues to serve the Bridgewater area and has added northwest communities, including New Germany and Hemford.

Earlier this month, service was added further south, in communities such as Petite Riviere, LaHave and Middlewood. The operator’s long-term goal is to service the entire western half of Lunenburg County.

The funding is provided by the Province’s climate plan and supports Action 39 in the plan – to “increase access to community transportation services for all communities outside of the Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton Regional Municipality.” Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth will help create a cleaner and more sustainable future for all Nova Scotians by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency and helping homes and buildings become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Quotes:

The funding Lunenburg County Wheels has been allotted by the Province will ensure the legacy of the Senior Wheels association continues under the new brand of Lunenburg County Wheels. The expanded, all-inclusive service will enable our existing and future customers to access their community for medical and social needs, promoting a connected community through affordable door to door transportation.

Jerome Tanner, President, Lunenburg County Wheels

Quick Facts:

• in November, the Province distributed $10.9 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to transit service providers throughout the province
• in February, the Province announced nearly $525,000 in funding over three years to help the Nova Scotia Community Transportation Network implement a new centralized dispatch system to improve the booking process for operators and clients
• municipalities and non-profit organizations can apply for funding from the Community Transportation Assistance Program to cover a portion of the operating costs of a community-based, inclusive transportation service

Additional Resources:

Lunenburg County Wheels: https://lcw.ruralrides.ca/

Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf

News release to announce $36,000 in funding to support the development of a business and marketing plan for Lunenburg County Wheels: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20220401007

Community Transportation Assistance Program funding application: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-operating-costs-community-based-transportation-service-community-transportation-assistance-program