Exciting transformations are on the horizon for Thunder Bay's public transportation infrastructure, fueled by a combined investment of almost $19.5 million from the federal government, the provincial government, and the City of Thunder Bay.
This was announced by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River, Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario's Minister of Transportation, Kevin Holland, Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay-Atikokan, and His Worship Ken Boshcoff, Mayor of the City of Thunder Bay.
The City will replace two gas-powered transit pick-up trucks, used for patrolling and supervising transit services, with fully electric zero-emission models, supported by two charging stations at the Transit Building on Fort William Road. The new trucks will save on fuel and maintenance costs.
Real-time route and traffic management software for accurate, on-demand arrival times and fleet tracking will be purchased to provide the community with a more reliable and efficient transit service.
To make transit more accessible to a wider range of users, the City will also construct almost 13 kilometres of new sidewalks, multi-use trails, and trail extensions, including bridge river crossings. These pathways will align with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) accessibility standards. The accessibility deficiencies at several bus stops, including bus shelters, will also be addressed.
To extend the useful life of the fleet transit garage, a section of the roof, the diesel exhaust system, the lubrication lift, and the approach aprons will be replaced. This will reduce operating costs and make bus maintenance more efficient. To improve operational efficiency and safety, a secondary exit will be added to the High Street maintenance facility.
And, to make driving more ergonomic and safer for bus drivers, the City will replace driver's seats in numerous buses. They will also fit new transmissions and engines into select buses to improve the efficiency and extend the useful life of Thunder Bay's existing transit vehicles.
