A total of 312 new projects approved in 28 municipalities across Ontario

Hamilton, Ontario, March 31, 2017 — 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 a long day.

Today, the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Ted McMeekin, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation, and his Worship Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton, announced 13 newly approved projects that will benefit Hamilton under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF). The federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of funding for these projects—just over $36.2 million.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged the importance of public transit to Canadians as stated in Budget 2017, and also announced federal funding for major GO Transit Regional Express Rail projects across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Budget 2017 is the next step in the Government’s long-term plan to create jobs and strengthen the middle class. Prime Minister Trudeau spoke about how Budget 2017 will make ambitious investments in public transit projects that shorten commutes, decrease air pollution, and allow Canadians to spend more time with their families.

The PTIF projects include significant investments across Hamilton. A project to design and plan a new maintenance and storage facility will support the maintenance of the expanding transit fleet. The purchase of 16 new buses will also support the growth of the public transit system and make transit services for riders more reliable and comfortable. Another project will modernize and refurbish numerous bus stops and shelters, improving riders’ experience as they wait for transit services to take them where they need to go.

In addition to these projects, Minister Gould and MPP McMeekin also announced that 107 public transit projects will benefit eleven other communities across Ontario.

This investment is part of an agreement between Canada and Ontario for the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

