The Town of Yarmouth wants to make improvements to the Yarmouth International Ferry Terminal.
Last night, council voted to apply for $9 million in funding for upgrades to the building.
Under the proposal, the town would pay 40 percent of the local share of the project, which is $1.2 million.
Two thirds of the funding would have to come from higher levels of government.
Mayor Pam Mood says this would be a ‘Phase 1’ project, and priorities for upgrades will be examined.
“What are the things that have to get done. It could be anything from the bridge, the wharf, the pontoon piece. Canadian Border Services are a large part of it too, what are their needs.”
The town says in order to cover the local funding contribution, up to $300,000 may be drawn from the accumulated surplus of the Ferry Terminal.
The renewal/replacement of the ferry terminal was identified by the three municipal units in Yarmouth County as a regional priority in 2015/16, behind only the airport.
Mood says the application is due next week.
“We’re in pretty good shape to get that application in. We’ll know sometime in early fall, and then we’d have until 2023 to get the project done.”
Mood says they would work around the ferry service to make sure it’s not disruptive to them.
The town took ownership of the terminal in 2014 before ferry service resumed, and got a commitment from neighbouring municipalities to participate in ownership and operations of the terminal going forward.
