That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done.
Strategic investments in public transit infrastructure play a key role in ensuring Ontarians can get to work, school and essential services on time, and safely back home at the end of the day.
Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Steve Clark, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds─Grenville─Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure; Jim McDonell, Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont-Dundas─South Glengarry; her Worship Bernadette Clement, Mayor of Cornwall; and his Worship Jason Baker, Mayor of Brockville, today announced funding for six public transit and accessible transportation projects in Cornwall and Brockville, Ontario.
The five Cornwall projects involve the installation of 10 new bus shelters and 60 fully accessible bus stops, and the replacement of 12 conventional buses and eight para transit buses. The installation of 90 surveillance cameras, 15 new passenger counters and 26 electronic fare-boxes will enhance the passenger experience and provide better security to the public. These investments will encourage more residents to choose public transit by providing them with greater accessibility and safer public transit in Cornwall.
Brockville will see the replacement of five buses for Brockville Transit to the existing fleet, from 2021 to 2027. The buses are commercial minibuses equipped with an accessible lift. All buses in the replacement fleet will have automated stop announcement systems, fare counting aids and improved rider metric collection devices, allowing for better safety, accessibility and route planning.
The Government of Canada is investing over $5.1 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 $4.1 million while the City of Cornwall is contributing over $3.0 million and the City of Brockville is contributing $210,076 in their respective projects.
Quotes
"Investing in modern and accessible public transportation systems is essential to building healthy, inclusive, and resilient communities. Many residents in Cornwall and Brockville rely on public transit to get around the region each day. The investments we are making with our partners are helping make communities more liveable for families while moving forward on sustainability and fighting climate change. They will also provide jobs as we recover from the economic effects of the pandemic. When Canada builds, Canada grows."
Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands
"Investing in infrastructure is essential to the economic recovery of Cornwall, Brockville, and Ontario. This is stimulus that will create jobs and help our municipal partners rebound from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic."
The Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure
"Last summer, I was proud to nominate this project to enhance transit services in the City of Brockville. I'm pleased the city can now move forward with its plans to purchase a new fleet of buses to improve service so that more Brockville residents can use public transit. This is a great example of all three levels of government working together to make life better for families in our community."
The Honourable Steve Clark, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds─Grenville─Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
"Moving goods to market and people to jobs is a critical piece of our community's economic growth and recovery. I'm thrilled that the City of Cornwall has now been given the green light to move forward with building more public transit infrastructure. We remain committed to working with our municipal partners and the federal government to build more public transit that will get people moving, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth."
Jim McDonell, Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont-Dundas─South Glengarry
"We are always grateful for investments in our public transit infrastructure. Our community relies on Cornwall Transit - and this was never more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which our buses connected residents with essential work and services. The City of Cornwall welcomes the opportunity to further invest in our transit system, and especially in infrastructure that will make transit more accessible, safer, and more efficient."
Her Worship Bernadette Clement, Mayor of Cornwall
"The City of Brockville appreciates that both senior levels of government recognize the challenges of running a small sized transit system. This program will allow for the continued updating of our fleet ensuring Brockville can continue to provide safe and convenient access to our community to all our citizens and visitors."
His Worship Jason Baker, Mayor of Brockville
Quick facts
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Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
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$28.7 billion of this funding is supporting public transit projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
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Across the province, Ontario is investing more than $7.3 billion in public transit infrastructure over 10 years through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
