Highlighted below are a few recent decisions by Regional Council that reflect steps being taken by the municipality to make a difference in the Halifax region. For more details regarding all matters deliberated by Council and the direction given to municipal staff, please see the action summaries which are posted to the online meeting agendas within one business day as well as the meeting minutes which are posted online once approved by Regional Council.
Highlights from Tuesday, June 11, 2025
Student Transit Pass Program extended through the 2025/2026 school year
Halifax Regional Council has directed the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Province of Nova Scotia to extend the Student Transit Pass Pilot Program through the 2025-26 school year.
Students in grades seven to 12 who attend junior high and high schools within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) catchment areas will continue to have access to unlimited travel on Halifax Transit buses, Access-A-Buses and ferries.
Regional Council has also approved expansion of the program to include registered homeschooled students in grades seven to 12 who live in the Halifax region. Homeschooled students will also receive a free Halifax Transit pass by presenting proof of homeschool registration at municipal Customer Contact Centres.
First launched in 2021, the continuation of the program has been made possible through a funding agreement between the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Province of Nova Scotia. Two surveys, conducted in fall 2024 and winter 2025, highlighted the program’s positive impacts on student independence, confidence and increased transit usage, as reported by both students and parents.
For more information, read the staff report.
*Note: this motion will be final when the meeting minutes are approved by Regional Council.
Previous meeting highlights
Halifax Transit Hydrogen Bus Demonstration project
Halifax Regional Council has approved funding to support the dual-fuel (hydrogen/diesel) bus demonstration project.
The Halifax Transit Hydrogen Bus Demonstration project is a forward-thinking initiative that aims to evaluate the potential of hydrogen in decarbonizing our transit fleet. It entails converting four of Halifax Transit’s diesel buses to dual-fuel (hydrogen/diesel) systems to operate on regular Halifax routes, providing valuable real-world data on performance, efficiency and operational considerations. This project, scheduled for completion in 2026, aligns with both the municipality and the Province of Nova Scotia’s clean energy adoption and emissions reduction goals.
For more information, read the staff report.
*Note: this motion will be final when the meeting minutes are approved by Regional Council.