Halifax Transit proposes $114M budget to council

Halifax transit officials have proposed $114-million budget for next year, a $2-million increase from this year.

Officials admit however, ina presentation that will be made to Halifax Regional Council on Wednesday, that while the transit system has expanded slightly both in hours and kilometres, ridership is down 1.47 per cent.

In order to balance the books, transit managers are hoping to try to reduce overtime by a $500,000.That's despite havingone less regular bus driver and only four more Access-a-Bus drivers.

If the budget is approved, the extra money will cover 49 replacement buses for both regular transit and the Access-a-Bus system.

The completion of three technology projects is also anticipated for next year. The projects involvea new electronic fare box, automated bus stop announcements and a vehicle location system.

There could also be another new ferry and renovations to both the Halifax and Woodside ferry terminals.

Transit managers want to begin design work on a new bus terminal in Wright's Cove,in the Burnside area of Dartmouth.

They're still working on a new long term plan for the transit system called Moving Forward Together and have started developing what they call a Universal Access Plan.