Today, Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst, Georges Savoie, Mayor of Neguac and Vice-President of the Acadian Peninsula Regional Service Commission, and Yvon Godin, President of the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick, announced a federal investment of more than $1.14 million to support public transportation two projects in the Chaleur region and in the Acadian peninsula.
At the same time, the second intake for applications of capital projects that support public transit solutions in rural communities across Canada was launched. Starting today, applications to the Rural Transit Solutions Fund, Capital Projects stream, will be accepted on a continuous basis. This stream helps cover capital costs like the purchase of vehicles or digital platforms, as well as to support the purchase of zero emission vehicles.
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund is the first federal fund to target the development of transit solutions in rural, remote, Northern and Indigenous communities. Launched in 2021, this Fund provides $250 million in federal funding to support the development of locally driven solutions that help people living in rural communities get to work, school, appointments, and visit loved ones. A minimum of 10% of the $250 million Fund will be allocated to projects that benefit Indigenous populations and communities.
The Acadian Peninsula Regional Service Commission is receiving over $1 million to implement a new transit system to serve communities in the region. They plan to acquire six regular buses and one accessible bus, which will provide service on the regular routes, and five minivans to connect more remote areas to the regular routes. The project will also include the installation of signs to identify pick-up and drop-off points, two propane tanks to allow for refueling, an in-vehicle point-of-sale system and bike racks.
The Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick has received a $50,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study on the design and implementation of a public transit service in the Chaleur region. This study will analyze the viability of such a service and propose different scenarios for access to services in the region.
These projects will help the ongoing development of an inclusive and sustainable transportation strategy. Public transit systems encourage independence and resiliency among those living in rural areas, leading to improved economic, social and environmental outcomes in these regions.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, increasing the resiliency of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.
