FORT NELSON, B.C. - Residents who rely on public transportation in Fort Nelson will soon have improved access to local transit after the federal government announced funding for a new accessible mini-bus aimed at expanding on-demand service in the community.
The only form of public transportation available in Fort Nelson is set to receive a new accessible vehicle thanks to the funding announced Thursday.
The federal government has committed $127,408 toward the purchase of an accessible mini-bus for Northern Rockies Senior Society.
The funding announcement states the project will “replace and expand on-demand transit services” in Fort Nelson.
The Northern Rockies Senior Society operates a wheelchair-accessible community bus service that serves residents throughout Fort Nelson, including members of the Fort Nelson First Nation.
The service is currently the community’s only public transportation option.
The investment will support the replacement of the existing accessible bus used to provide transportation within the community.
The funding was announced as part of a broader federal investment of more than $10.6 million for rural transit projects across British Columbia through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund.
Federal officials say the program supports transportation services in rural, remote and Indigenous communities through projects ranging from vehicle purchases to transit infrastructure and planning initiatives.