Door-to-door transportation service fills transit gap in rural St. Mary’s

Darlene Naugle faced challenges navigating the small community of Port Bickerton on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore after relocating from Alberta three years ago to care for her ill daughter. Without a vehicle, running errands like grocery shopping was impossible for the retiree. However, in October of last year, Naugle’s situation changed drastically with the introduction of Smart-Go, a community transportation system in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s.

Operated by the St. Mary’s Association for Rural Transit, Smart-Go aims to provide door-to-door, accessible transportation services for the 2,300 residents of the municipality. Thanks to funding from the federal government and the province, the program was able to purchase vehicles and offer subsidized fares for low-income individuals. Riders pay a base fee of $5 plus 75 cents per kilometer, and they can be picked up from their homes in one of the program’s vans and taken to various destinations, including Halifax and Antigonish.

Heather Kreffer, the executive director of Smart-Go, highlighted the significant need for such a service in the community, especially for seniors and individuals facing challenges accessing medical appointments. With over a dozen regular users and increasing ridership each month, Smart-Go has proven to be a vital resource for residents in need of reliable transportation.

Similar rural transportation services are already in operation in other regions, such as East Hants and Victoria County. Doug Wetmore of It’s More Than Buses, a transit advocacy group based in Halifax, emphasized the importance of expanding transit systems like Smart-Go to bridge transportation gaps across the province. By building up ridership and gradually expanding services, rural areas can eventually be connected to larger transit networks like Halifax Transit.

Looking ahead, Wetmore hopes to see more comprehensive transit options available statewide to ensure that all communities are easily accessible. For Naugle, Smart-Go has not only kept her connected to her community but has also provided a sense of family through its dedicated staff. She believes that more transit services like Smart-Go are essential for fostering community connectivity and supporting individuals in isolated situations.