Federal Government Invest $26.5M into green transportation. Green public transit is the future of Canada
The safety and well-being of Canadians continue to be top priorities of the governments of Canada and Ontario. But the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than Canadians’ personal health, it is also having a profound impact on the economy.
Ontario has been the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic and need help getting safely to work and home, getting out to appointments, to shop and to conduct business. Strategic investments in sustainable public transportation infrastructure play a key role.
Today, Catherine McKenna Minister of Infrastructure and Communities along with her colleauges and Members of Parliament for the Ontario legislature and Rob Burton, Mayor of the Town of Oakville, announced funding for 14 projects today that will modernize Oakville’s transit system and create a more sustainable community.
Projects include the replacement of 57 diesel buses over the next six years with zero-emission battery-electric buses, plus 16 new electric buses to expand the fleet. In addition, 32 charging stations will be installed to support battery charging for the electric buses. These investments will lower Oakville Transit’s operation and maintenance costs, and reduce the fleet’s impact on the environment.
Several projects will modernize the transit experience for users. Wi-Fi will be installed on 107 conventional and 20 para-transit buses so riders can easily connect to the Internet from their mobile devices. Users will be able to track their bus location and arrival times with a new Internet and smart phone application, while a new real-time trip management mobile app will also be available for para-transit users. All of these improvements will make the system more reliable and convenient for riders.
In addition, approximately 249 bus stops in Oakville will be upgraded to ensure full accessibility for riders, with landing pads, walkways, ramps, and curbs. These upgrades will improve safety and comfort for all transit users.
The Government of Canada is investing over $26.5 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $22.1 million, while the Town of Oakville is contributing over $17.6 million.
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