Governments of Canada and Alberta invest in public transit

Six new projects approved in four Alberta communities

LEDUC, AB, July 5, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Alberta are making investments to create jobs and grow the middle class, while building a foundation for a strong, sustainable economic future. Investing in public infrastructure supports efficient, affordable and sustainable transit services that help Canadians and their families get to work, school and essential services on time and back home safely at the end of the day.

Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Brian Mason, Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation, and His Worship Greg Krischke, Mayor of the City of Leduc, announced more than $733,000 for six new projects. Support for the projects in four Alberta communities is through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF), the provincial Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP) and municipal funding. The federal government is providing more than $315,000, while the province is investing more than $317,000. Local municipalities will be responsible for the remaining costs.

Funding will help the City of Leduc replace a specialized transit bus and upgrade bus stops with garbage/recycling units and concrete shelters. This will increase the comfort and safety of transit riders while they wait for their bus. Additional projects will rehabilitate high-capacity articulated buses in Airdrie, design and implement a transit plan for Lake Louise–Banff, and purchase a bus for local service in Spruce Grove.

This investment is part of an agreement between Canada and Alberta for the PTIF. The projects announced today are in addition to the 49 PTIF projects announced for Alberta on September 1, 2016 and the 52 PTIF projects announced on December 3, 2016. In all, more than $930 million has been announced in federal, provincial and municipal funding for Alberta transit projects.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is working closely with the Government of Alberta and its municipalities to invest in transit initiatives that will strengthen communities across the province by growing the middle-class, fostering long-term prosperity and getting Canadians to their daily activities on time and back home at the end of the day. The projects announced today will provide Alberta residents with affordable and efficient public transit infrastructure now and into the future."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi,
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Our government continues to show leadership by creating jobs through significant investment in infrastructure and supporting reliable, accessible and improved transit service across the province. This announcement shows that we are committed to making life better by ensuring Albertans in our cities, towns and counties have reliable access to affordable and environmentally sustainable public transportation options."

The Honourable Brian Mason,
Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation

"None of us can do it alone. Transit is important in communities like ours and when all three levels of government work together it is amazing what we can accomplish. We're very pleased to be included in this major transit funding announcement. The dollars we receive today will enhance our connectivity in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region."

Greg Krischke,
Mayor of the City of Leduc

Quick Facts

• 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.
• The Government of Canada's Budget 2017 committed $25.3 billion to support public transit projects. This amount includes $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• The Government of Alberta has committed $1.3 billion over the four years for urban, rural, and regional transit to connect communities and help Albertans access affordable transportation options.
• Alberta's transit investment aligns with the province's Climate Leadership Plan, as transit helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing affordable alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles.
• Transit funding helps to improve the quality of life for Albertans by supporting safe, affordable, accessible, and environmentally sustainable transportation options.
• Transit projects improve public access to essential services, education and jobs, making lives better for Albertans.

Related Product

Backgrounder: https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2017/07/backgrounder_canadaandalbertaannouncefundingforsixadditionalpubl.html

Backgrounder

Canada and Alberta announce funding for six additional public transit projects

A new list of transit projects has been approved under the Canada-Alberta Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) agreement, which is designed to address key infrastructure priorities with a focus on repairing and upgrading existing facilities and assets. Under the agreement, the Government of Canada allocated Alberta a total of $347,190,000 for public transit projects, and will fund up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the eligible project costs. The Government of Alberta and municipalities will fund the balance.

As part of that bilateral agreement, the following six additional projects have now been approved for federal funding of $315,817 and provincial funding of $317,288. The recipient municipalities will cover any remaining costs.

Location	Project name	Federal funding	Provincial funding	Anticipated start date
Airdrie	Bus rehabilitation program for high capacity articulated buses	$94,567	$189,163	2018-01-01
Lake Louise and Banff	Design and Implementation Plan for service between Lake Louise and Banff	$35,000	$35,000	2016-09-01
Leduc	Purchase of replacement specialized transit (LATS) bus	$42,500	$21,250	2017-01-01
Leduc	Purchase of garbage/recycling units plus cigarette disposal units for bus stops	$22,000	$11,000	2017-01-01
Leduc	Construction of concrete bus stops for passengers to safely await buses	$13,000	$6,500	2017-01-01
Spruce Grove	Purchase of 1 bus for local service	$108,750	$54,375	2018-03-01

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/fes-eea/2016/docs/themes/infrastructure-en.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Alberta: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/ab-eng.html

PTIF projects in Alberta: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/pt-sp/projects-list-liste-projets-ab-eng.html

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

Project funding breakdown: https://www.transportation.alberta.ca/documents/AlbertaFunding-Breakdown.pdf

Alberta Public Transportation Initiatives: https://www.alberta.ca/public-transit-initiatives.aspx

List of all PTIF-GreenTRIP projects: https://www.transportation.alberta.ca/6093.htm

Alberta GreenTRIP: https://www.transportation.alberta.ca/5409.htm

Alberta Public Transportation Initiatives: https://www.alberta.ca/public-transit-initiatives.aspx

Visit YourAlberta SoundCloud to hear a recording of this event: https://soundcloud.com/your-alberta

Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

For further information: Kate Monfette, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-301-0894, [e-mail]; Graeme McElheran, Communications Director, Alberta Transportation, 587-783-0587, [e-mail]; Nikki Booth, Manager of Communications and Marketing Services, City of Leduc, 780-340-7483, [e-mail]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, [e-mail]

Related Links

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