Metro Transit (Halifax)

Founded	1979
Headquarters	200 Ilsley Avenue, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Service area	Halifax Regional Municipality
Service type	bus service, paratransit and ferry
Routes	59 total
Stops	Over 2,211
Fleet	315 vehicles
Daily ridership	Approx. 50,000 (2007/2008)
Fuel type	B20 biodiesel, some hybrid
Operator	Halifax Regional Municipality
Web site	Official website

Metro Transit is a Canadian public transport agency operating buses and ferries in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).

Owned by the HRM, Metro Transit's operations area is the urban core in the western part of the municipality, namely the Halifax and Dartmouth Metropolitan Areas, along with adjacent outlying neighbourhoods and communities. Metro Transit is the largest transit agency in Atlantic Canada, carrying 18.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2007/2008.

History

The agency's roots trace back to its four predecessors: Nova Scotia Light & Power Company (March 1928-December 1969) and Halifax Transit Corporation (January 1970-February 1979) in Halifax, and Dartmouth Transit Service Buses Ltd. (April 1957-February 1978) and Dartmouth Transit (February 1978-February 1979) in Dartmouth. In March 1981, both Halifax and Dartmouth transit agencies merged their services to become Metro Transit, taking its name from the Metropolitan Commission. Metro Transit Centre, the agency's headquarters and bus maintenance facility, is located on Ilsley Avenue in Burnside Park, with a satellite garage known as the Rapid Transit Garage also in Burnside Park on Thornhill Drive.

Bus service

Metro Transit articulated bus

Currently there are 278 buses in the fleet, 177 of them low-floor vehicles, operating on 56 routes, including three Community Transit routes, three express routes operating as "MetroLink" which began service in August 2005, and a rural express route operating as "MetroX" which started in August 2009.

Regular service

Metro Transit operates 52 conventional transit routes within the metropolitan region of Halifax Regional Municipality (Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville), including the areas of Eastern Passage, North Preston/Cherry Brook, Tantallon and Herring Cove. Routes are numbered according to the region or type of service provided:

Route number structure

Routes in the 00's, the 10's and the 20's are primarily Halifax-based routes. Routes in the 30's are rush-hour only routes serving Halifax. Routes in the 40's are university routes serving the Dalhousie University Studley campus which, until summer 2010 operated only during the academic calendar (September to April). Routes in the 50's, 60's and 70's are Dartmouth-based routes. Routes in the 80's are Sackville and Bedford routes. Routes in the 100's are the MetroLink routes, and routes in the 300's are the MetroExpress routes.

Fare structure

Category	Cash Fare	MetroPass	10 tickets
Adult	$2.25	$70.00	$18.00
Senior/Child	$1.50	$52.00	$13.00
Student	$2.25	$64.00	$18.00

In addition, a University student bus pass (U-pass) is available for Saint Mary's, Mount Saint Vincent, King's College, Dalhousie, Nova Scotia Community College (Halifax Campuses only) and Nova Scotia College of Art and Design students, and the cost is included in tuition fees. The Metro Transit fare structure can be found on the Metro Transit website.

Transfers are issued upon request on all Metro Transit buses and ferries. A transfer allows the user to transfer between multiple conventional route buses and ferries traveling in any direction without having to pay an additional fare. A transfer also allows users to transfer to MetroLink and Community Transit buses at a reduced fare. Transfers are valid for 90 minutes after they have been issued. Holders of a valid MetroPass or MetroLink Pass do not require transfers.

Transit routes

Metro Transit bus

Active

No.	Name	Features	Inner Terminal	Outer Terminal	Notes/History
1	Spring Garden		Bridge Terminal	Mumford Terminal
2	Wedgewood		Water Street Terminal	Kearney Lake & Wedgewood	Used to provide service to Exhibition Park.
3	Mumford		Mumford Terminal	Inglis & South Park	Weekday service only. This route re-uses the number of an unrelated former route that used to service Göttingen before it was merged with route 7.
4	Rosedale		Water Street Terminal	Ross & Dunbrack
5	Chebucto		Water Street Terminal	Downs & Milsom	Weekday service only.
6	Quinpool		Water Street Terminal	Stonehaven & Glenmore
7	Robie		Merv Sullivan Park	Northridge Loop
8	Waterfront		Pier 21	Barrington & Duke	Re-uses the number of an unrelated former route that used to service Windsor St before it was discontinued.
9	Barrington		Point Pleasant Park	Mumford Terminal
10	Dalhousie		Dalhousie University Terminal	Invenary & Strath
11	Dockyard		Bridge Terminal	Halifax Dockyard	Partially a re-reinstatement of a former route with the same number.
14	Leiblin Park		Barrington & Duke	Leiblin & Juniper
15	Purcell's Cove		Bayers Road Terminal	York Loop
16	Parkland		Bridge Terminal	Lacewood Terminal	No Sunday service.
17	Saint Mary's		Saint Mary's University	Lacewood Terminal	Weekday service only. No evening service.
18	Universities		Saint Mary's University	Lacewood Terminal
19	Greystone		Mumford Terminal	Greystone Loop	Weekday service only.
20	Herring Cove		St Paul's & School	Barrington & Duke
21	Lakeside / Timberlea		Charles & Richard	Summer & Trollope
22	Armdale		Mumford Terminal	Exhibition Park
23	Timberlea / Mumford		Upper Water & Cornwallis	Glengarry Gardens	Weekday service only.
31	Main Express		Summer & Trollope	Lacewood Terminal	Weekday service only.
32	Cowie Hill Express		Barrington & Duke	South Centre Mall	Weekday service only.
33	Tantallon Express		Summer & Trollope	Hubley Centre Mall	Weekday service only.
34	Glenbourne Express		Summer & Trollope	Kearney Lake & Parkland	Weekday service only. Used to be the Rockingham Express.
35	Parkland Express		Via Rail Station	Lacewood Terminal	Weekday service only. Used to service Rosedale.
41	Dartmouth – Dalhousie		Dalhousie University Terminal	Bridge Terminal	Weekday service only.
42	Lacewood – Dalhousie		Dalhousie University Terminal	Lacewood Terminal	Weekday service only.
51	Windmill		Bridge Terminal	Princess Margaret & Killkee	Weekday rush service extends from Bridge Terminal to Princess Margaret & Killkee to Joseph Zatzman Dr.
52	Crosstown		Colfold & Akerley	Chain Lake & Lakelands
53	Notting Park		Highfield Terminal	Bridge Terminal	Weekday rush service extends from Bridge Terminal to Summer & Trollope.
54	Montebello		Dartmouth Ferry Terminal	Caledonia & Du Portage
55	Port Wallace		Dartmouth Sportsplex	Portobello Loop
56	Dartmouth Crossing		Portland Hills Terminal	Wright & Countryview	Used to service Westphal
57	Russell Lake		Woodside Ferry Terminal	Portland Hills Terminal	Used to service Mic Mac
58	Woodlawn		Bridge Terminal	Dorthea & Lucien	Weekday rush service extends from Bridge Terminal to Mumford Terminal.
59	Colby		Bridge Terminal	Ashgrove & Cole Harbour	Weekday rush service extends from Bridge Terminal to Summer & Trollope.
60	Eastern Passage / Heritage Hills		Bridge Terminal	Caldwell & Shore
61	Auburn / North Preston		Barrington & Duke	North Preston Recreation Centre	Used to service Bisett.
62	Wildwood		Bridge Terminal	Cole Harbour Place	Used to be the 62 Cherrybrook.
63	Woodside		Bridge Terminal	Irving & Franklyn	Weekday service only.
64	Akerley		Bridge Terminal	Akerley & McClusky	Weekday rush hour service only.
65	Caldwell		Portland Hills Terminal	Caldwell & Cole Harbour
66	Penhorn		Cobequid Terminal	Gaston Loop	Used to provide service to the Woodside Ferry, and Forest Hills.
68	Cherrybrook		Bridge Terminal	Cherrybrook & Hwy 7	Weekday peak service extends from Bridge Terminal to Summer & Trollope. Used to provide service to Ross Road and Auburn.
72	Portland Hills		Portland Hills Terminal	Finlay & Shuble
80	Sackville		Upper Water & Cornwallis	Downsview Mall
81	Hemlock Ravine		Upper Water & Cornwallis	Bedford & Uteck	Weekday service only. Used to service Bedford
82	Millwood		Cobequid Terminal	Sackville Terminal	Weekday peak service extends from Cobequid Terminal to Barrington & George
83	Springfield		Sackville Terminal	Springfield Estates
84	Glendale Express		Summer & Trollope	Sackville Terminal	Weekday service only.
85	Downsview Express		Summer & Trollope	Sackville Terminal	Weekday service only. Used to be the Bedford Express.
86	Basinview Express		Summer & Trollope	Hwy 1 & Rockmanor	Weekday service only. Used to connect Bedford and Dartmouth.
87	Glendale		Bridge Terminal	Sackville Terminal	Used to service Halifax and Connolly.
88	Bedford Commons		Cobequid Terminal	Sackville Terminal	Used to service Atlantic Acres.
89	Bedford		Lacewood Terminal	Cobequid Terminal	Weekday service only.
90	Larry Uteck		Lower Water Street Terminal	Larry Uteck Roundabout
159	Portland Hills Link		Barrington & Duke	Portland Hills Terminal	Weekday service only.
165	Woodside Link		Woodside Ferry Terminal	Portland Hills Terminal	Weekday service only.
185	Sackville Link		Barrington & Duke	Downsview Mall	Weekday service only.
330	Tantallon		Albemarle & Duke	Tantallon Rink Park & Ride	Weekday service only.

Wheelchair – Uses Accessible Low Floor (ALF) buses only.
Rush Hour Service Only.
Designated Bike Route.
MetroLink Service (see MetroLink section below)
MetroX Service (see MetroX section below)
University routes that, until the summer of 2010 only operated during the university academic calendar year (September – April).

Defunct

• 3 Gottingen (1927–1989) Fate: merged with route 7.
• 8 Windsor (1963–1999) Fate: discontinued due to overlapping service from other routes.
• 11 Macdonald Bridge (1955–1988) Fate: merged with route 1, later partially reinstated.
• 12 Flamingo (1970–2003)
• 16 Stanley Park (1995–1998)
• 19 Fotherby (1990–2000)
• 22 Exhibition Park (1993–2004)
• 26 Shuttle (1993–2008)
• 30 Glenforest (1975–1999)
• 34 Rockingham Express (1982–1990)
• 35 Rosedale (1995–2000)
• 40 Mumford – Dalhousie (2006–2006)
• 48 Highfield (1990–1999)
• 50 Portland Estates (1980–1996)
• 50 BIO (2001–2004)
• 56 Westphal (1980–1989)
• 57 Mic Mac (1980–1989)
• 61 Bisett (1980–1996)
• 66 Forest Hills – Woodside Ferry (1987–1989)
• 68 Auburn (1980–1995)
• 68 Ross Road (1995–2000)
• 71 Forest Hills Express (1982–1989)
• 81 Bedford (1980–1985)
• 85 Bedford Express (1980–1991)
• 86 Bedford – Dartmouth (1987–1988)
• 87 Connolly (1990–1997)
• 88 Atlantic Acres (1993–1994)

University routes that only operated during the university academic calendar year (September – April).

Express service

Main article: MetroLink (Halifax)

MetroLink is Metro Transit's BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) express bus service that operates Monday to Friday. The system consists of three limited-stop fully accessible express routes, connecting downtown Halifax's Scotia Square bus terminal, with the Portland Hills terminal in Cole Harbour on the Dartmouth side, and the Sackville Terminal in Lower Sackville. The third route links the Portland Hills Terminal to the Woodside ferry terminal in Dartmouth during morning and afternoon peak service times.

Rural express

Main article: MetroExpress (Halifax)

MetroExpress, or MetroX for short is Metro Transit's rural express bus service. There is one MetroX route, running between Tantallon to Halifax. There are two other planned routes that will service the rural commutershed of HRM. All routes are to terminate at Scotia Square in downtown Halifax.

Community transit

Metro Transit supervisor car on the waterfront in Dartmouth, with the Dartmouth ferry in the background

Metro Transit runs a Community Transit service, allowing residents in some suburban and rural communities access to the regular and express bus system operated by Metro Transit.

There are three Community Transit routes:

• Porters Lake, offering Monday-Saturday service between Portland Hills Terminal in Dartmouth and the communities of East Preston, Lake Echo, Porters Lake and Grand Desert via Portland St, Cole Harbour Rd, Forest Hills Pkwy and Highway #7.

• Beaver Bank, offering weekday service between the new Sackville Terminal and Beaver Bank Villa in Beaver Bank via the Beaver Bank Road.

• Sambro, offering weekday service between South Centre Mall in Spryfield and the Ketch Harbour fire hall Ketch Harbour via the old Sambro road and hwy 349. This route uses the same buses as the Metro X service does.

Cash fare on all three routes is $2.25 (Adult/Student) $1.50 (Children/Senior 5–15). Tickets and transfers from other routes are accepted, Monthly bus passes and U-Passes are accepted. Transfers are issued on request on these routes that allow passengers to continue their travels on other Metro Transit routes.

Access-A-Bus

Metro Transit also provides Access-A-Bus service which is a dial-a-ride service for elderly and handicapped residents in the region. This service was created in 1981, the same year Metro Transit was formed. There are approximately 20 Access-A-Bus vehicles^{[citation needed]}.

GoTime

Bus stop sign on Alderney Drive.

GoTime is the name of Metro Transit's automated vehicle locater (AVL) system. The generation system (unveiled over the winter of 2007/2008) uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track buses throughout the system, providing information on location and schedule adherence to the transit control centre. This information is also used to update Metro Transit's real time bus departure system available to the general public.

Concept

Each bus stop sign has a blue 4-digit GoTime number on it. A passenger can dial 480- plus the 4-digit number to hear an automated message telling them exactly when the next bus on each route servicing that stop will depart, based on the information calculated above. Also, GoTime monitors are placed at every transit terminal, and a few major stops, listing each of the routes that service that stop and when the next two buses on those routes will arrive at that stop. This information is continually updated as the central GoTime system recalculates bus departure times, using the data collected from the buses. In addition to this, each bus is equipped with an on board computer which continually updates the driver on exactly how many minutes ahead of or behind schedule they are, to ensure schedule adherence. A web-based component was developed to provide departure times information via the internet in both standard internet and mobile internet formats.

Technical difficulties and limitations

As of 2010 the system’s functionality was limited to just scheduled transit data (as opposed to live transit data) with information displays at terminals malfunctioning on a regular basis. Metro Transit publicly announced the web-based GoTime system in the Winter of 2007–2008 utilizing a pamphlet distributed in buses that had an incorrect URL (http://halifax.ca/metrotransit/gotime) to the service. This component, which can be found at http://halifax.ca/gotime was never correctly or officially released to the public.

History

The new GPS-based system replaces an older system originally designed by the former City of Halifax between 1984 and 1987, one the earliest real-time passenger information and transit management systems in North America. The previous generation system used wheel rotation sensors to calculate the distance traveled from the start of the route, which was then transmitted back to the transit control centre. This data allowed the system to calculate the buses position along its route, as well as exact departure times for each bus stop ahead of it. In addition to wheel sensors, door sensors were used to determine when the bus was at a stop, and a series of electronic transmitters mounted to power poles along each route allowed the system to further calculate the buses position along its route. As with the current-generation system, the previous system also had a call-in system where a user could call the 4-digit GoTime number on each bus stop and hear an automated message telling them when the next two buses on each route servicing that stop would depart, monitors at all terminals displaying real-time departure information, and on board computers displaying information to drivers on how far ahead or behind schedule they are.

The hardware to support the previous-generation GoTime system had been steadily deteriorating over time, as the last major overhaul to the system was completed in 1996. There is reference to funds being allocated in 1998 for a GoTime upgrade, however, it is believed that the companies that were contracted to perform the upgrade, failed to do so when they each went bankrupt. Due to the instability of the system, it is believed that sometime between 2004 and 2005, the "real-time" functionality of the GoTime system was disabled, as phoning the system seemed only to tell the scheduled departure times, not actual departure times; the phone-in component used the words "scheduled to depart in" when real-time data was unavailable, and "will depart in" when the data was available.

Fleet

Current

Manufacturer	Model	Model Years	Fleet Numbers	No. Purchased	No. Remaining in Service	Notes/History
MCI	TC40-102N Classic	1987 1988 1989 1990	921 – 928 929 – 940 941 – 947 948 – 952	8 12 7 5	1 5 3 5	Some of these retired due to lots of New Flyer D40LF's in service.
MCI / NovaBus	TC60-102N Articulated Classic	1992 1993	701 – 707 708 – 714	7 7	5 5	In 1993, MCI was taken over by NovaBus in the middle of the 1993 order; as a result, 708 – 710 bear the MCI logo, while 711 – 714 bear the NovaBus logo. NovaBus discontinued the articulated Classic immediately following the fulfillment of this order.
NovaBus	TC40-102N Classic	1994 1995 1996	953 – 966 967 – 974 975 – 985	14 8 11	13 8 11	975 & 976 were test buses running on propane. The fuel provided less power than expected, and the engines were converted to diesel.
NovaBus	Nova LFS	1999 2000	986 – 996 997 – 1000	11 4	11 4	These were originally designated for use on low floor routes, but now are also commonly used on routes that are not designated as accessible, because the ramps do not function, and the buses do not kneel as they are supposed to.
New Flyer Industries	D30LF	1999	505 – 507	3	3	These buses operate on the Beaver Bank and Porters Lake Community Transit service.
New Flyer Industries	D40LF	2002 2004 2005 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009	1001–1032 1033–1060 1061–1082 600 – 619 1083–1107 1108–1130 1131–1153 1154–1159	32 28 22 20 25 23 23 6	32 28 22 20 25 23 23 6	600 – 619 are branded for use on the MetroLink service, but are occasionally pressed into service on conventional routes. 600 – 619, 1083–1159 have air conditioning.
New Flyer Industries	DE60LFR Articulated	2009	715 – 716	2	2	715 – 716 are both hybrids.
Glaval Bus	Titan	2009	516 – 525	10	10	516 – 525 are branded for, and usually operate on, the MetroX and Sambro Community Transit service, but also occasionally provide service on conventional routes.
NovaBus	Nova LFS Articulated	2010 2010	717 – 731 732 – 741	15 10	15 10	717 – 731 were put into service on August 30, 2010. 732 – 741 were delivered December 2010 and entered service in February 2011 during the Canada Winter Games.

Past

Manufacturer	Model	Model Years	Fleet Numbers	No. Purchased	Notes/History
GMDD	T6H-5305 New Look	1969 1971	801 – 819 820 – 823	19 4	Prior to 1981, these buses were owned by Halifax Transit Corporation
GMDD	T6H-4521 New Look	1969 1971	401 – 455 133 – 135	55 3	Prior to 1981, 401 – 455 were owned by Halifax Transit Corp; 133 – 135 were owned by Dartmouth Transit Service
GMDD	TDH-3301 New Look	1971	130 – 131	2	Prior to 1981, these buses were owned by Dartmouth Transit Service
GMDD	TDH-3302N New Look	1973	137	1	Prior to 1981, this bus was owned by Dartmouth Transit Service
GMDD	T6H-4523N New Look	1973 1975 1976 1977	138 – 139 143 – 144 145 – 147 148 – 150	2 2 3 3	Prior to 1981, these buses were owned by Dartmouth Transit Service
GMDD	T6H-5307N New Look	1981/82 1975 1978 1982	510 – 515 824 – 835 836 – 856 857 – 869	6 12 21 13	Prior to 1981, 824 – 856 were owned by Halifax Transit Corp; 857 – 869 were bought after HTC and DTS merged into Metro Transit; 510 – 515 were purchased from BC Transit. 512 had an electronic sign.
GMDD	TC40-102N Classic	1983 1985 1986 1987	870 – 881 882 – 895 896 – 910 911 – 920	12 14 15 10	The 1983 buses originally had rollsigns, although some have since been converted to electronic destination signs.
Orion Bus Industries	01.501 (Orion I)	1981	501 – 504	4	Purchased from the Toronto Transit Commission in 1990. 501, 502 & 504 were sold to Kings Transit, Nova Scotia
Orion Bus Industries	01.506 (Orion I)	1985	308	1	Purchased from the Pictou County Regional Transit Authority in 1996. Sold to Kings Transit, Nova Scotia
Saab-Scania	CN112A	1984	201 – 212	12	Assembled from 'completely knocked-down' kits by Tri-Star Industries of Yarmouth, NS; purchase subsidised by NS government in an attempt to create a provincial bus-building industry

Ferries

Halifax III

Close-up of HRM ferry

Dartmouth III

A map of Metro Transit ferry routes, both existing and possible new ones. (Note: Possible route to Eastern Passage is not included)

Current service

Metro Transit also provides two passenger ferry routes, one connecting downtown Halifax with Alderney Landing in Dartmouth (which operates daily using two vessels) and the other connecting downtown Halifax with Woodside (Monday through Friday only using one vessel). The ferry services are integrated with the bus services; the fares are identical, and transfers are accepted between the two systems. The harbour ferries are utilised by over 3,000 commuters daily Each ferry carries up to 398 passengers. The characters of Phillip and Phillmore, the ferry twins from the children's TV show, Theodore Tugboat are modelled after these vessels.

Proposed high speed service

In recent years, following unfulfilled plans to implement commuter rail, the municipality has begun to plan several new high speed ferry routes on Halifax Harbour, including service to Purcell's Cove, Bedford, Eastern Passage and Shannon Park. These routes would be served by wave piercing catamarans capable of speeds of approximately 40 knots. Details have not been finalized, however it is likely that the downtown Halifax terminal would act as a hub, with all routes radiating outward. Studies and trials have been undertaken for a Bedford-Halifax route, which will likely be the first high speed service.

Fleet

Current

There are three ferries in operation:

• Dartmouth III – Built in 1979 in Pictou, Nova Scotia.
• Halifax III – Built in 1979 in Pictou.
• Woodside I – Built in 1986 in Pictou.

All three ferries are double-ended side-loading, and use two 230 hp Caterpillar model 3306 engines, each driving a model 12E/75 Voith-Schneider propeller.

Past

The Dartmouth to Halifax ferry service dates from 1752. Following is a list of earlier ferries as far as is known.

• Dartmouth II – Built in 1956 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, retired in 1979.
• Halifax II – Built in 1956 in Lunenburg, retired in 1979.
• Scotian – Built in 1946 in Pictou, Nova Scotia, retired in 1955.
• Governor Cornwallis – Built in 1941 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, retired in 1944 (destroyed by fire).
• Dartmouth – Built in 1934 in Lauzon, Quebec, retired in 1957.
• Halifax – Built in 1911, retired in 1956.
• Chebucto – Built in 1906, retired in 1951.
• Annex 2 – Built in 1878 in New Baltimore, New York, retired in 1909 (destroyed by fire).
• Arcadia – Built in 1884 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, retired in 1891.
• Dartmouth – Built in 1888 in Yarmouth, retired in 1935.
• Chebucto – Built in 1878 in Dartmouth, retired in 1892.
• Mic Mac – Built in 1878 in Dartmouth, retired in 1901.
• Boxer – Built in 1838 in Dartmouth, retired in 1864.
• Sir C. Ogle – Built in 1830 in Dartmouth, retired in 1894.
• Sherbrooke – Built in 1816 in Dartmouth, retired in 1830.

See also

• Transportation in the Halifax Regional Municipality
• Halifax Regional Municipality

External links

• Metro Transit's official website
• Complete route map for Halifax-Dartmouth area.
• Complete route map for Bedford-Sackville area.
• Schedules, maps for individual routes, riders guide.
• hbus.ca Community-based trip-planning service for Halifax