St. John's adding hybrid, accessible buses to Metrobus fleet

The City of St. John's is adding eight hybrid buses to the Metrobus fleet, which it says will also bring addedaccessibility to the public transit system.

In anannouncement Friday at the Metrobus depot in St. John's, officials outlineda partnership deal among all three levels of government to support 18 transportation projects for St. John's and the surrounding area. The federal government is contributing $15.8 million, while the government of Newfoundlandand Labrador isaddingnearly$12 million and the city$8 million.

"Funding will support the purchase of eight accessible hybrid transit busesto make sure conventional transit options in the city more accessible to wheelchair users," St. John's East MPJoanne Thompson said Friday.

"This investment is also making it easier for residents to stay healthy and active by constructing new shared-use pathways."

Thompson said the buses will help the city cut down on emissions and help people travel around the region easier, which she said will help build a more dynamic capital city.

St. John's Mayor Danny Breen said49 per cent of the city's greenhouse gas emissions come from public transit.

Breen said the buses and other projects are in the works, includingsmaller buses that could operate specific routes, addingmore bus shelters and constructingthenew shared-use pathways for pedestrians.

"One of our city's strategic directions is to be a city that moves, with a goal to expand and maintain a safe and accessible transportation network," Breen said.

"Investing in accessible hybrid buses and building new infrastructure will allow more people of all ages and abilities to move around our city and get where they need to go."

In March, the city launched a study focused onadding electric buses to itsfleet.

At the time, Metrobus general manager Judy Powellsaid it will take years for that to happen. The study is expected to be completed by June.

GoBus issues under review

Breen said the introduction of the buses will give people with mobility issues more transit options.

His comments come as multiple users of GoBusAccessible Transit shared concerns with CBC News this week over problems with the system and the implementation of a wait-list due to high demand and a lack of drivers.

"There's been some issues there that have been identified. Coun. [Ron] Ellsworth, who's on the St. John's transportation commission, has been leading a review of this along with their staff at Metrobus," Breensaid.

"So they're looking through those issues now and addressing them. Hopefully very shortly they'll have some solutions."

Breen said there are accessible buses on six routes around the city, and Friday's announcement will increase that number.

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