A public transit service will see the light of day in Bathurst next fall. It will be carried out using three minibuses which will connect residential areas to the busiest sectors of the municipality.
Bathurst municipal officials voted unanimously Monday evening to move forward with this pilot project which will take place over three years.
Three minibuses with around twenty passengers each will provide the service.
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Bathurst Mayor Kim Chamberlain is very enthusiastic about this public transportation project which is taking shape.
Photo : - / Serge Bouchard
Bathurst Mayor Kim Chamberlain says the year is off to a good start for her municipality.
We are super happy
she congratulates herself. Next week, we’ll move on to the resolution at the CSR. Then, from there we will order the buses. We hope to be in operation around September 2025.
A little over 18 kilometers
It will initially be a journey of a little more than 18 kilometers according to Thomas Lizotte, spokesperson for the Chaleur Regional Service Commission.
It will be a direct line that will connect residential areas to the busiest points in the Chaleur region.
he explains. So, we are talking here about the KC Irving Center, grocery stores, shopping centers, pharmacies.
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The driver of one of the CSRPA minibuses, arriving in Caraquet.
Photo : - / René Landry
Bathurst Mayor Kim Chamberlain says it’s a worthwhile investment.
With the funding we receive, it will cost the city, I think, $227,000
she specifies. It’s public transportation for our citizens: low-income people, seniors, students.
Belle-Baie not ready to board
The public transportation project must be officially ratified at an upcoming meeting of the Chaleur Regional Services Commission on January 15.
The mayor of the neighboring municipality of Belle-Baie, Daniel Guitard, applauds Bathurst’s approach.
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The mayor of Belle-Baie, Daniel Guitard, applauds this new transportation service. However, he still has questions to ask about his financial management.
Photo : - / Serge Bouchard
This is an excellent project
he said. This is a service that is necessary in the region and will be very useful for citizens throughout the Chaleur region.
Belle-Baie, however, still has questions to ask, particularly in terms of the financial management of this project.
This municipality could therefore wait a little before joining the project or, if we want, getting on the bus.
With information from Réal Fradette
