Halifax ferries continue to run every 30 minutes ahead of busy summer season

A Halifax ferry route is still operating on reduced service as summer approaches.

The Alderney ferry route continues operating every 30 minutes during peak periods, while another Halifax ferry remains out of service for maintenance.

In a statement, Halifax Transit said the delays have been caused by a combination of supply chain issues, replacement parts from international suppliers and technical problems during testing.

“The Alderney ferry service continues to run every 30 minutes during peak periods, and Woodside ferry service is operating normally,” said Brynn Budden, municipal spokesperson. “Halifax Transit continues to work closely with suppliers to return ferries under maintenance to service as soon as possible.”

Shuttle buses continue running between Halifax and Dartmouth, including routes crossing the Macdonald and MacKay bridges.

Still, some in Dartmouth say the reduced ferry schedule is already creating concerns for businesses that rely on steady traffic from across the harbour.

“People are frustrated that we’re back to 30-minute ferry service,” said Tim Rissesco, CEO for the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission. “With the 15-minute service, people could just come and jump on the ferry and not really have to worry about its schedule.”

Rissesco said the longer wait times could discourage people from visiting downtown Dartmouth restaurants and shops.

“We have a pretty exciting June coming up,” Rissesco said, pointing to SailGP and the Junior World Canoe Championships on Lake Banook. “With the ferry down, it’s going to really put a dampening effect on that excitement.”

Coun. Tony Mancini said frustration with the current system is high.

“On a scale of one-to-10? Ten being the most frustrated? Eleven,” Mancini said.

Mancini, who says he uses the ferry almost daily, said reliable 15-minute service is critical to growing ridership.

“If we could have consistent 15-minute service, I really believe we could increase the ridership,” he said. He added that missing one ferry can significantly disrupt commutes.

Mayor Andy Fillmore said the municipality is also facing challenges tied to an aging ferry fleet.

“Thirty-minute service is really difficult to contend with,” Fillmore said. “We have a fleet of ferries that are not young anymore.”

Fillmore said discussions are ongoing around long-term solutions, including potentially expanding ferry options and exploring partnerships with private operators.

“We know that other cities have done it successfully,” he said. “If they could do it there, we could certainly do it here.”

Halifax Transit said updates on ferry repairs will be provided as they become available.

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