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240 241 only.Currently,theHalifaxfleet isamixofNovasandNew Flyers. Lookingahead,Reagesays,“Wehaveacoupleexciting projectscomingup.One isacommuter rail that’s inthe studyphase.Ifweget council approval to proceed,we could see the service operating inHalifaxwithin the next five years,whichwouldmake us one of the small- er cities inNorthAmerica to operate a commuter rail system.The other big one is Bus RapidTransit (BRT). We should have a good plan for that in the next few months.We have a real opportunity to be one of the rare systems with threemodes–bus,ferry,and rail.It really speaks to the diverse geographyof Halifax.” Another key focus is transit priority.Halifaxstreets are verynarrow,especially in the historicdowntown, so theydon’t have the luxuryof transit-only lanes.That means beingmore creative in terms of small and large investments at strategicpinch points to help buses move through trafficmore efficiently.According to Reage,“We can put the best service or the best routes out there,but if they’re stuck in traffic,we’re not get- ting the return on the publicmoney that we need.The other elephant in the room is autonomous vehicles.It can be a huge opportunityor risk. “Consider having large buses as autonomous vehi- cles…whenwe train newdrivers,we tell them,“driving a bus is only25 percent of your job,the other 75 per- cent is safetyof the passengers,and customer service.” So,howwould that playout in a fleet without drivers? I thinkoverall public acceptance of anyautonomous ve- hiclewill be a challenge until itbecomescommonplace. Butparticularlyifyougetonabuswith30strangers–are youokaywiththerenotbeingsomeoneonthereworking for transit?” HALIFAX TRANSIT Boatbuilding & Repair Aluminum l Fiberglass l Steel l Wood n Hull repairs, fiberglassing and painting n Complete main engine or auxiliary engine installation n In-house propeller sales and repair n Complete repair/renewal of main shaft, bearings and cutlass n Complete TCMS inspections n In-house marine services Meteghan River, NS Canada 902.645.2327 www.aftheriaultboatyard.com At Uniform Works, our core belief is quality products and outstanding customer service. This is what sets us apart. Uniform Works partners with experienced manufacturers committed to product excellence that reflect current industry best practices in comfort, style, safety, and durability. We make products to suit your needs. 89 Cutler Ave., Suite 104 Dartmouth,NS B3B 0J5, Canada 902.468.5367 • info@uniformworks.ca www.uniformworks.ca The Operators and Staff of Halifax Transit represent the heart and hospitality of Halifax to millions of riders each year. Uniform Works is proud to be the uniform supplier to this professional team. VENDORS n Barrington Consulting Group www.barringtongrp.ca Since 2004, Barrington Consult- ing Group has provided customized, cross-industry, business and IT consulting services. Headquartered in Nova Scotia, Canada, the company also has established offices in New Brunswick, Canada, and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It services the following industries: healthcare services, the private and public sectors, driver and vehicle services, government registries, and intelligent transportation systems. n A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. www.aftheriaultboatyard.com n GCR Tire Centres www.gcrcanada.ca GCR Tire Centres, Inc. operates as the Canadian branch of GCR Tire Centers, Inc., which was founded in 1945 in Odessa, Texas and, today, is the retail division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC. The company offers tires products and retreading services. It also operates retail stores, tire recapping facilities, and a wheel manufacturing plant. n Uniform Works www.uniformworks.ca