Public Transit

Public Transit

Great news for Summerside. Will benefit people with disabilities, college students and residents.  Recognize some will be against as with any initiative but pros outweigh the cons.  

Hop on the bus Nancy MacPhee/Journal Pioneer

Mike Cassidy (left) of Trius Transit, transit driver Chris Melanson and Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart stand in front of the city’s new public transit bus. A citywide pilot public transit service will begin this Tuesday and run five days a week. The...

 Published on June 29, 2012

Published on June 29, 2012

Nancy MacPhee    Send to a friend

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  Last name*  Email*  Your name*  Your email*  Comments    City of Summerside, Trius Tours announce T3

SUMMERSIDE — “All aboard!”

Topics : Prince County Hospital , Union Place , Shoppers Drug Mart , Summerside , Fair Mall , Charlottetown

Those words, from bus driver Chris Melanson, echoed through the air as he rounded up passengers Friday for the unofficial first ride on the city’s new transit system.

The City of Summerside and Trius Transit announced that, beginning Tuesday, a pilot citywide transit system would be available five days a week.

T3 Transit has been months in the making, said Mayor Basil Stewart.

“We got a call from Trius, from Mr. Melanson, and we moved on from there and held a meeting of council,” said Stewart of how the idea was born. “There were a number of discussions with management and council decided they would support a pilot project for a year to see how it works out.”

The city is providing a $2,500-a-month subsidy towards the one-year pilot project.

There will be two routes — from Reads Corner and downtown to County Fair Mall, Prince County Hospital and Slemon Park Plaza and one from Slemon Park Plaza, Prince County Hospital, County Fair Mall to downtown and Reads Corner.

Pickups begin at 6:20 a.m. in the area of the former Waterfront Mall ending with final drop offs and pickups before 7:30 p.m. Fares are $2, exact change, each way.

“We feel that a number of people within the community are requesting this service,” said Stewart. “Hopefully, it will grow. We’re going to try it for a year.”

With the public in-city transit system, the mayor hopes to keep more people who work or study in the capital living in Summerside since the new route will be connected to the existing County Line Express to and from Charlottetown.

Trius Transit’s Mike Cassidy said the whole idea of public transit is to provide affordable and accessible transportation for all citizens. He’s been operating the City of Charlottetown’s public transit system since its introduction in 2005.

“When you look at our major route, within 20 minutes we can take a resident, a customer, a passenger fare from Granville Street North right to the waterfront area.”

Passengers are being encouraged to ‘flag’ down the bus along the route, as stops signs and intersections will essentially become bus stops, added Cassidy.

“That’s how we’re going to start next Tuesday,” he said. “Many different types of people need public transit for a number of reasons.”

After the system’s first 30 to 60 days, Cassidy hopes to have a minimum of 300 passenger fares a day. That, with the city’s subsidy, should result in a break-even situation or small profit for his company.

“It’s now my responsibility to drive the ridership because the ridership is the fare box,” he added. “Now the onus is on the operator. Let’s market, let’s push this.”

When asked how the service would impact the city’s two taxi firms, Cassidy had this to say: “Based on experience, we have found in the greater area of Charlottetown we are compatible with the taxi service. Initially, there’s a fear that the bus service comes into play at $2 a passenger fare and business is going to be lost.

“Honestly, for many, many people that get on public transit, you have to ask the question, is it affordable and accessible. Many times, that demographic, that target market, is not using taxis.”

Signage has yet to be erected for the system and the Cassidy’s business — OK Tire on Greenwood Drive — will act as the depot.

With the system running almost 70 hours a week, almost two full-time positions will be created, with Melanson as the main driver.

The full transit schedule is available at triustransit.ca, at City Hall, Shoppers Drug Mart, Reads Corner Esso, Credit Union Place, Rotary Regional Library, Prince County Hospital and Slemon Park Plaza.

The schedule shows approximate bus times at certain points along the route.

nmacphee@journalpioneer.com

A FEW FACTS:

-       Known as T3 Take Transit Today for the City of Summerside

-       One-way fare $2 exact change

-       Monday to Friday, holidays excluded

-       Begins Tuesday, July 3

-       Buses follow a 20-minute route down North Granville Street, along Notre Dame Street to Credit Union Place and to Waterfront Mall.

-       Scheduled service will also be provided to Read’s Corner, St. Eleanor’s and Slemon Park

-       Bus is equipped with WIFI and is wheelchair accessible.

-       For more information, call 566-9962.