Canada and Quebec support improved public transit service in the Greater Montréal Area

BROSSARD, QC, Nov. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize that investing in public transit infrastructure is crucial to economic growth, reducing air pollution, and creating inclusive communities where everyone has access to public services and job opportunities.

Peter Scheifke, Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil‒Soulanges, and Lucie Charlebois, Quebec's Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living and Minister Responsible for the Montérégie Region, today announced an investment of nearly $27.9 million for 11 projects for the Réseau de transport métropolitain (RTM) under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The Government of Canada will provide close to $15.5 million for these projects, and the Government of Quebec will contribute almost $12.4 million. The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain will provide the remaining funding.

The projects made possible through this contribution include a rider assistance and information system, which will help provide, among other things, better information for RTM bus and train service users, a park and ride area at the Vaudreuil station, and rail infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction work on the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter train line.

Once completed, these projects will improve the performance, efficiency and reliability of the Greater Montréal Area's transit system, make it more inclusive, and meet the community's immediate needs while preparing for anticipated future increases in ridership.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is investing in projects to help build sustainable communities while promoting economic development and the growth of the middle class. I am very pleased that these investments will help the RTM improve travel times through dedicated bus lanes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing new parking spaces, and enhance riders' overall experience through standardized information, in so doing preparing the Greater Montréal Area for future growth."

Peter Scheifke, MP for Vaudreuil‒Soulanges on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"I am delighted for the citizens of the Montérégie region and the Montreal metropolitan area that will benefit immensely from the projects supported by these investments. With the help of these initiatives we will promote the maintenance, development and improvement of infrastructure and equipment, that enhances the fluidity of movement and the user experience." 

Lucie Charlebois, Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living and Minister Responsible for the Montérégie Region, on behalf of André Fortin, Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification

"The development of public and active transportation is one of the key issues in the greater Montreal area, so I am very pleased that our government supports projects that help to make our transportation system more reliable and more effective."

Richard Merlini, MNA for La Prairie

"One of the roles of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain is to fund public transit infrastructure projects. The PTIF greatly helps our efforts in this regard, and will enable us to move ahead with projects by our transportation partners and develop public transit throughout the Greater Montréal Area. The investments announced today will also give us an opportunity to continue with the RTM in developing information technology, like the Chrono app, which will enhance the mobility of public transit system users in the region and meet demands for efficient travel."

Paul Côté, Chief Executive officer of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain

"We are delighted with the substantial investments made by the governments of Canada and Quebec on Réseau de transport métropolitain projects. The $27.9 million investment will help us to enhance the performance of the bus transit network, as well as information for riders, modernize and expand overcrowded park and ride areas, and rebuild rail infrastructures. The RTM will thus provide South Shore residents with a more modern, efficient transit system."

Raymond Bachant, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Réseau de transport métropolitain

Quick Facts

• The governments of Canada and Quebec are today announcing funding totaling more than $90.9 million for 33 projects that will benefit public transit users on Montréal's South Shore. In addition to the 11 projects mentioned in this press release, 22 projects by the Réseau de transport de Longueuil will be able to go ahead. The federal government will invest up to $50,530,098 in these 33 projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, and the province will provide $40,424,078 in funding.
• The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• To support public transit, Budget 2017 is allocating $25.3 billion. This amount includes $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. 
• Over the next ten years, the Government of Quebec plans to invest more than $91.1 billion from the province's infrastructure plan in health, education and transportation, in order to improve families' quality of life and create conditions that support innovation and economic growth.

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Backgrounder

The governments of Canada and Quebec support better public transit services in the Montreal metropolitan area
Investments of nearly $27.9 million

Public Transit Infrastructure Fund

The governments of Canada and Quebec are investing $27,874,706 in 11 projects for the Réseau de transport métropolitain to improve commute times, reduce air pollution, strengthen communities and grow the regional economy.

The Government of Canada is contributing $15,485,948, representing 50 percent of the total eligible costs, and the province is providing $12,388,758, representing 40 percent of the total eligible costs. The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) will provide the remaining funding.

List of projects

Project Name	Federal Funding	Provincial Funding	Funding from the ARTM	Anticipated Start Date
Chrono - Equipment purchase phase and first wave in the installation of the operating assistance and passenger information system (SAEIV) on RTM buses	$6,105,000	$4,884,000	$1,221,000	September 1^st, 2017
Vaudreuil parking lot - Completion	$2,932,500	$2,346,000	$586,500	May 1^st, 2018
Reconstruction of bridge 1.4 of the Montréal & Ottawa Subdivision - Construction phase	$2,300,000	$1,840,000	$460,000	May 1^st, 2018
Rehabilitation of tracks on the Montréal & Ottawa subdivision	$1,147,609	$918,087	$229,522	April 1^st, 2017
Measures to improve system safety - Integrity of installations	$911,964	$729,571	$182,393	December 1^st, 2016
Construction of a permanent parking lot at the Vaudreuil station - Completion of studies, drawings and specifications	$787,500	$630,000	$157,500	January 1^st, 2017
Reconstruction of Bridge 1.4 of the Montreal & Ottawa Subdivision - Completion of studies, drawings & specifications	$406,875	$325,500	$81,375	June 1^st, 2016
Expansion of the La Prairie parking lot	$362,250	$289,800	$72,450	December 1^st, 2016
RTM buses – Preferential measures – Reserved lane for Highway 132	$278,250	$222,600	$55,650	January 1^st, 2017
RTM buses – Preferential measures – Multi-use path along Highway 116 reserved lane	$165,000	$132,000	$33,000	April 1^st, 2016
Châteauguay parking and terminus - studies	$89,000	$71,200	$17,800	September 1^st, 2017

 Associated Links

Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Federal investments in infrastructure projects in Quebec: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html.

Public Transit Infrastructure Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/ptif-fitc-eng.php

Quebec Infrastructure Plan: https://www.tresor.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/PDF/budget_depenses/17-18/infrastructuresPubliquesQuebec.pdf

Twitter: @INFC_eng
Website: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

For further information: Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Tel.: [phone]; Marie-Pier Richard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification, Tel: [phone]; For Information: Media Relations, Communications Branch, Quebec Department of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification , Tel.: [phone], Montréal: 514 873-5600, Toll-free: 1 866 341-5724; Infrastructure Canada, Tel.: [phone], Toll-free: 1 877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/