Transportation
Like food and shelter, transportation is a basic need, especially in the rural area where Sackville is located. Community-based options can be viable solutions.
1. Coordinate sustainable community transportation options
We need to get to work, school, shopping, activities and medical appointments safely. Sackville would benefit from bike lanes and trails and the discussion of a cycling and pedestrian bridge over the TransCanada Highway has been ongoing for many years. Active transportation contributes to a healthy and resilient community. A community shuttle would be ideal for out-of-town trips to Amherst, NS and Moncton. There are many seniors, low-income residents, single parents, students and others who would benefit greatly from a community shuttle to help them access medical appointments, and other essential services. While a shuttle poses challenges for our low-density population, Tantramar Rural Rides, a charitable organization, offers door-to-door services for a low cost with volunteer drivers.
Find Rural Rides at: http://ruralridesnb.com/tantramar/.
2. Install electric vehicle charging stations
Electrifying our transportation is central to addressing climate change and is the way of the future with more and more countries promising to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in the coming years and decades. Electric vehicles reduce emissions and eliminate the need for oil and gas. EOS Eco- Energy, Mount Allison University students and the Town of Sackville installed a level 2 electric vehicle charging station at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre in 2014. Since then, many local residents have purchased electric vehicles and many tourists drive them as well. There is a desire to install more electric vehicle charging stations, including a fast-charging station, in downtown Sackville to support electrification of transportation and support downtown development. As a community, we can work towards identifying funding for more charging stations at local businesses, municipal sites and other locations.