Trial Tantramar Shuttle
Final Report
The trial Tantramar shuttle service has ended. The service was not busy enough to continue. View the final project report here: EOS Shuttle Final Report.
Project Summary
EOS Eco-Energy is a not-for-profit organization based out of Sackville, New Brunswick. It is dedicated to energy sustainability in Tantramar and pursues that goal by promoting energy conservation, renewable energy technologies, sustainable community planning, and climate change adaptation. One way to save energy is with common transportation, where many people travel together to save costs and fuel. The goal of this shuttle project was to get as many people riding together at the same time as possible. Thus a scheduled shuttle service was designed with specific routes.
The Tantramar region does not currently have a local common transportation service, despite a large and documented need for it. Previous studies including the Sustainable Sackville Plan (2010), Tantarmar 2040 Sustainability Plan (2011), Picture Port Elgin (2011), Transportation for Tantramar Model (2013), among others, all state the need for a local Tantramar shuttle service.
Three alternative transportation options were studied for the Transportation for Tantramar Model Feasibility Study: common transportation, carsharing, and carpooling. Of 365 survey respondents 75 percent were interested in common transportation; 26 percent in carsharing; 27 percent in carpooling. Residents saw common transportation (such as a shuttle) as a way to provide transportation to those that could no longer drive or needed an accessible vehicle, as well as to reduce current environmental and financial costs. In particular, seniors at engagement sessions across the region were eager to make use of such a system to access shops, medical appointments, and social events in Sackville, Moncton, and Amherst. Many families also cited the need to save money and reduce their environmental footprint.
Currently residents of Sackville as well as Port Elgin, Dorchester, Memramcook and points in between need to access services in Amherst and Moncton in an affordable and environmentally friendly way. A shuttle service is also needed for residents in the outlying regions to get into Sackville for doctor’s appointments, groceries, the food bank, work, and special programming (prenatal courses), etc.
Thus, EOS Eco-Energy, with funding from the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation and Renaissance Sackville, set out to test the idea of a shuttle service by offering a one-month trial period. The Westmorland-Albert Community Inclusion Network also partnered on the project. The final report explains the project’s goals, methodology, the trial service offered, results, and next steps.
For more information on the project contact:
Amanda Marlin, Executive Director
EOS Eco-Energy
536-4487
PO Box 6001 131 D
Main St., Sackville, NB E4L 1G6
** The Trial Shuttle has been made possible by EOS Eco-Energy, Renaissance Sackville and the Economic and Social Inclusion Network.