High-Speed Ferry Service Announced

USPA NEWS - After many years of study and debate, this week, it has been announced that there will soon be a high-speed ferry service which will run between Downtown Halifax and the Mill Cove area of Bedford.

The Halifax Regional Municipality, Province of Nova Scotia and the Federal Government will deliver five new electric ferries along with two new Net-Zero ferry terminals and a maintenance centre. There will be a ferry terminal built in Mill Cove and a new terminal built in downtown Halifax to replace the existing terminal which is nearing the end of life. Funding for this major project will come from all three levels of government. Halifax Regional Municipality will provide more than $38 million, Province of Nova Scotia will spend $65 million and Federal Government will provide 155.7 million. Build Nova Scotia is providing the land for the Mill Cove terminal.

The new ferries will provide a high-speed ferry service from the Downtown Halifax Waterfront to a new terminal in Mill Cove which will be connected by a bridge over the train tracks providing pedestrians and cyclists easy access to vehicles and other public transit services. The new ferry service is expected to provide a 20-minute service between Downtown Halifax and Bedford while being much kinder to the environment. The completion of the project is scheduled for the 2027-2028 fiscal year.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman, on behalf of Public Works Minister Kim Masland, had this to say, " The new ferry route will also encourage people to use public transportation and help us meet our climate change goals by using fast zero-emission electric ferries. This project addresses road traffic in the area and helps us plan for future population growth."

Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities said, " Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in our commitment to helping Nova Scotians get where they need to go quickly and sustainably. By investing in state-of-the-art net-zero ferry terminals and zero-emission electric ferries, we’re not just enhancing connectivity; we’re paving the way for a cleaner, greener future. The Halifax Transit Mill Cove Ferry Service is a direct response to the priorities that the people of Halifax West have raised with me. It’s going to get more people out of traffic and put less pollution into our air.”

Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Mike Savage said in his remarks, "With the growth we are continuing to see, so is the need to make sustainable transportation competitive with personal vehicles. Not only will this improved ferry service help people get around faster, it will also promote continuous growth surrounding the terminal and establish a consistent community hub.”