Saint John transit plans stalled by election
Last Updated: Monday, December 5, 2005 | 1:57 PM ET
CBC News
The federal election campaign appears to have stalled plans for a commuter bus service in the greater Saint John, N.B., area.
Saint John Transit was told it would receive almost $10 million from the federal government for expanded service, said general manager Frank McCarey.
In last spring's federal budget, the government said it would share $5 billion worth of gas tax revenue with the country's municipalities over the next five years.
"We've got a plan that's been approved by all the different councils in the area and has been endorsed by a number of other groups, such as the Board of Trade [and] Enterprise Saint John," McCarey said.
"But we're not able to move until some of this stuff comes together."
The funds were intended to buy eight new buses.
McCarey says service will not begin until at least a year after the funding comes through.
Tracy Burkhardt, a spokesperson for the provincial Department of Transportation, said the federal bill to provide money for public transportation has passed.
However, there is still no signed agreement between the federal and provincial governments.
"At this point we are still reviewing things," she said.
"We aren't actively negotiating but we're still in contact with our federal counterparts at the officials level."
Burkhardt said there wouldn't be a final agreement until after the election.
