**** CNS Media Release
Planning Begins for Net-Zero Burnside Transit Centre
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The Province is providing $7.1 million as part of a $20.8-million investment in the planning and design of a new Burnside Transit Centre in Dartmouth.
This is the first phase of a project to replace the centre with a larger, net-zero facility which will support a faster and more reliable public transit experience in Halifax Regional Municipality.
“Nova Scotia is a national leader in the fight against climate change. Buildings are a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the province. Energy efficient buildings play a key role in reducing this impact,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables.
Planning for the new centre will include the requirements to accommodate Halifax Transit’s growing zero-emission fleet.
The federal government is investing $6.5 million in the planning and design work, and Halifax Regional Municipality is contributing $7.1 million.
When complete, the new centre will provide increased capacity for Halifax Regional Municipality’s public transit system and better access to public transit, including clean energy transportation.
Quotes:
“Safe and reliable public transit systems contribute to making our communities good places to live, work and raise families. That’s why we’re investing over $6.5 million to begin the important work needed to replace, expand and transition Dartmouth’s Burnside Transit Centre into a net-zero facility, ready to accommodate clean energy transportation. By working together with partners, we will continue to support public transit infrastructure across the country so that people can get where they need to go in faster, safer and cleaner ways.”
– Darren Fisher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors and Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
“This is an exciting investment for Halifax Transit and for the residents and visitors of the municipality. This funding supports not only our public transit service by designing and planning construction of a net-zero transit facility for Burnside, but will facilitate our transition to a zero-emission bus fleet as part of HalifACT, the municipality’s climate action plan to reduce emissions and rely on clean energy sources.”
– Pam Lovelace, Deputy Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality
Quick Facts:
— the Burnside Transit Centre supports transit throughout the municipality and includes maintenance and repair facilities, storage areas for buses and some administrative offices
— the depot was initially designed for 110 buses, but currently handles 284 buses inside and outside the building; the number is expected to exceed 330 in the coming decades
— the Province has set a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030
— buildings contribute 12 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the province
— the transportation sector contributes 33 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the province
Additional Resources:
The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and the 2022 report on progress are available at: https://novascotia.ca/nse/prog
Investing in Canada infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.c
Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia: https://www.infrastructure.gc.
Natural Resources and Renewables on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NS_DNRR
