Mayor outraged by Acadian's proposed cuts to bus service
Published Saturday November 14th, 2009
Miramichi Mayor Gerry Cormier says he'll fight any move to cut bus service between his city and Fredericton.
"I'm outraged. This is not acceptable," he said Friday, reacting to word that Acadian Coach Lines has proposed to eliminate the daily bus trip between the capital and northern New Brunswick's largest municipality.
"They're cutting the link between our cities," Cormier said Friday.
He said direct access to Fredericton is essential for his community. Many university students use the bus to get to and from home, he said, and many other people rely on the bus, including those heading to medical appointments or for treatment in Fredericton.
"It is crucial for this area that we keep the service," Cormier said. "Once we lose the service, we'll probably never get it back."
According to documents filed with the Energy and Utilities Board and obtained by The Daily Gleaner, the once-a-day trip is slated to be cut. Also up for elimination, according to the documents, are Acadian's service between Saint John and Bangor, Maine, and service on the Kentville-Digby corridor in Nova Scotia.
The bus company also proposes to reduce the number of trips between Fredericton and Riviere-du-Loup, Que., from three buses a day to two.
At the same time as it plans to eliminate some trips, the company is looking to increase service between Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton and Halifax.
"They're cutting us out and increasing service to Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John and Halifax. Where's the fairness?" Cormier said.
"This is not acceptable to the city of Miramichi."
Residents of Blackville, Boiestown and Doaktown - communities along the route that would no longer be serviced under the proposed cut - heard the news Friday.
Mayor Scott Clowater of the rural community of Upper Miramichi - which includes Boiestown - said he's against the proposal.
"We're totally opposed to having any service taken away from us," he said from the community located about 35 kilomeres north of Fredericton.
"The bus has been running here for many, many years. We simply don't want to see that discontinued."
He suggested that any move to eliminate the service might be short-sighted.
"With the cost of fuel going up, we're going to see more of a need and more of a demand for buses," he said.
But Clowater understands that economics are playing a factor in Acadian's decision.
"There probably are not near as many people taking the bus as there should be, but the people who do make use of it certainly rely on it."
Acadian issued a statement Friday indicating that it won't discuss the changes it has proposed to the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board until after it has had a chance to present them to the members.
A hearing date hasn't been set.
"We do not take changes to our service lightly, and we wish to work within the N.B. regulatory framework to ensure changes, if any, are done after full discussion with the regulatory body. We will grant all media requests once the hearing takes place and we have a better understanding of what our plans will be for 2010," said the statement.
Department of Transportation spokesman Andrew Holland said there have been no discussions with department staff about giving the bus line financial assistance.
"Nothing of that nature was discussed or offered," he said.
He said the department isn't prepared to comment on the report.
"As of right now, we don't have a copy of the documents. Until we receive and review it, we're not in a position to comment," Holland said.
Because this is a regulatory matter, he said, questions and comments from the public should be directed to the Energy and Utilities Board.
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