New rural transit routes launch in western P.E.I.

Tuesdaymarkedthe first day of service for two rural transit routes in western P.E.I.

One leaves from Tignish and goes through Summerside, Borden-Carleton and south shore communities before finishing in Charlottetown.The second route travels between smaller communities in the West Prince region.

Both routeswhich cost $2 a trip and must be booked at least three hours in advancewill run Monday to Friday for now.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure James Aylwardsaid only a handful of passengers used the service, but it's a start.

"We had, I believe, three people coming in from [the] western end of the province," said Aylward.

"One person got off in Summerside to go to work and two individuals got off at SlemonPark where they work.... That means there [were]three cars off the road as well."

TignishMayor Allan McInnis said the expansion to the west is a good thing and wouldn't be exclusive to commuters who live there.

"People wanting to visit this end of the Island [have]a better opportunity to come up here as well," he said.

The new routes were announced last month as part of aplan to create an Island-wide public transit system to get more cars off the roads and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In October, rural routes in eastern P.E.I. were launched, also with fares set at $2 per trip. (Public transit routes on P.E.I. are free for anyone 18 years of age and younger.)

Aylward said the rural public transit ridership has been steadily increasing, with amilestone of 11,000 users since its launch last year.

Premier Dennis King also acknowledged the importance of the service in the legislature Tuesday.

"The rates are very favourable, and it's a good way for Islanders to go about our province," he said.

Department of Transportation officials said the anticipated cost to the provincial government for the rural transit pilot is approximately $1.8 million.