NDP will partner with HRM to bring commuter rail to Halifax

Commitment includes up to $5 million in core funding

HALIFAX – Today, NDP Leader Gary Burrill announced that an NDP government would partner with the Halifax Regional Municipality to support bringing in commuter rail to help residents get in and around the municipality.

“Bringing commuter rail to the Halifax area will not only make the city more accessible, it will take cars off the road, reduce traffic congestion and reduce our carbon footprint,” said Burrill. “We know that the municipality is already considering commuter rail; an NDP government will be an active partner with them to make it a reality.”

The municipality and VIA Rail have been in talks for over a year about bringing commuter rail to the Halifax area. The city is currently in the process of working on a plan, and the president of VIA Rail has said that the company would like to pursue the idea.

To bring commuter rail to Halifax Regional Municipality, an NDP government will:

• Commit to partnering with the HRM to bring commuter rail to the Halifax area;
• Work with the HRM to access federal infrastructure money to help with capital costs;
• Provide core funding of up to $5 million per year to support annual operating costs of a commuter rail.

“An accessible, modern and efficient transportation system will help move people in and out of downtown more efficiently but it will also help connect the residents and communities of the entire municipality,” added Burrill. “The NDP will be an active partner with the municipalities to make sure the community is growing and thriving from one end to the other. Together, we can do this.”

-30-