COLDBROOK, N.S. — Things are truly rolling for Kings Point to Point Transit, with two new accessible vans now part of its fleet.
The organization, which provides door-to-door accessible public transportation to Kings County residents, received $100,000 in provincial funding for the purchase of its two new vehicles.
“I’m so pleased to be here today to
announce two new vehicles,” said Helen Juskow, chairperson of the Kings Point to Point Society. “We really need them to transport people in need, and people in wheelchairs around.”
The government support couldn’t come at a better time, Juskow noted, referencing an increase of 25 per cent in ridership on Kings Point to Point Transit vehicles.
“That funding is keeping us on the road,” Juskow said. “We are grateful to the province for their funding support, otherwise we would not have the vehicles needed on the road to meet our increasing demand.”
Kings Point to Point Transit is one of 11 organizations receiving funding across Nova Scotia this year.
The $100,000 Kings Point to Point Transit received comes on top of $150,000 in annual operating funding the company receives from the province.
Sandra Snow, Kentville’s mayor, praised the decision.
“It’s so great for our community. What this does is it gives people the ability to do what they do and go where they need to go.”
Snow said the funding will help Kings Point to Point Transit go much further than it was able to before and support the service’s growth.
“There’s a need, they’ve identified that need, and they’re going after it,” Snow said. “This is a business model that other companies should be look at because they’re doing the right thing for the right reasons and the right people - every single day.”
Seniors Minister Leo Glavine, who also serves as Kings West MLA, stressed the importance of aiding accessible transportation.
“This is an area that was certainly under-supported, and we knew we had that growing need for moving people who are in wheelchairs and have disabilities,” Glavine said. “It certainly is a proven service in Kings County.”
A steady stream of financial support, for Kings County in particular is necessary, Glavine contended, because “we know, with the ageing demographic alone, apart from people with disease and in wheelchairs, this is exactly where our investments need to be.”
Peter Muttart, mayor of Kings County, praised the province for the funding it’s providing Kings Point to Point, stressing the need for reliable transportation that goes beyond the main “corridor” roads in Kings County.
“As the minister indicated, we need to work together as a municipality with partners to provide transportation through the main corridors, but it’s difficult to leave those corridors and keep a reliable schedule. We need transportation for folks that are off the corridor or need direct transportation because of their health issues,” Muttart said.
“It’s very important that the province is engaged and involved with these investments.”