Canada and Ontario invest in public transit and active transportation infrastructure to support Waterloo Region residents Français
WATERLOO REGION, ON, June 16, 2020 /CNW/ - The health and well-being of Canadians are the top priorities of the Governments of Canada and Ontario. But the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than our personal health. It is having a profound effect on our economy.
That is why our respective governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and we continue to look ahead to see what more can be done.
Strategic investments in public transportation infrastructure play a key role in ensuring Ontarians can get to work, school and essential services on time, and safely back home at the end of the day.
The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Member of Parliament for Waterloo; along with along with the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure; Mike Harris, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga; and Karen Redman, Chair of the Region of Waterloo, today announced funding for 10 public transit and active transportation projects in the Waterloo Region.
Residents who use public transit will benefit from improvements to bus stops and shelters as well as safer pedestrian crossings and intersections. The University of Waterloo and Conestoga College (Doon Campus) Bus Stations will be renovated and expanded to include new heated transit canopies, signage, and covered bicycle parking. Several projects involve the construction of new and expanded pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, including a new 1.7 km trail to ION Light Rail Transit in the region. Better connected trails, bridges, and pathways will make it safer and easier for pedestrians and cyclists to commute to their destinations or to directly access public transit.
The Government of Canada is investing over $13 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Ontario is providing more than $11 million to the projects, while the Region of Waterloo is contributing more than $17 million.
This is the first in a series of important project announcements that will be made across the province over the coming weeks. We are working cooperatively to support jobs, improve our communities and build confidence as we safely and sustainably restore economic growth.
Quotes
"Investing in modern and accessible public transportation systems is essential to building healthy, inclusive, and resilient communities. Many residents in Waterloo Region rely on public transit and cycling routes to get around the region each day. The investments we are making with our partners are helping make communities more liveable for families while moving forward on sustainability and fighting climate change. They will also provide jobs as we recover from the economic effects of the pandemic. When Canada builds, Canada grows."
The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"Investing in modern and integrated public transit systems and active transportation are essential for building healthier, low carbon communities of tomorrow. The projects announced today in the Region of Waterloo will provide residents with more alternatives for getting where they need to go safely and affordably. This is a great example of how we are working with our partners to build stronger, more sustainable infrastructure that will serve communities now and in the future."
The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Member of Parliament for Waterloo
"Investing in infrastructure is essential to the recovery of Waterloo Region's and Ontario's economy," said the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure. "This will provide much needed job creation helping our municipal partners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic."
The Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure
"As Waterloo Region's economy begins to reopen, the approval of these transit projects and this investment of more than $31.4 million from Ontario, the Federal and Waterloo Regional governments will jump start our local recovery and create much needed jobs. I am very pleased that Waterloo Region is now able to move forward on these projects and deliver improved transit infrastructure to our communities."
Mike Harris, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga
"The Region of Waterloo acknowledges the crucial partnerships with senior levels of government. The collaboration and cost sharing at the federal provincial and municipal levels for these active transportation infrastructure projects will benefit pedestrians, cyclists and those who use public transit. This announcement recognizes our local priorities and enables our community to move towards by addressing the needs of our growing region while helping us reach our goal of lower carbon emissions and taking action on climate change."
Karen Redman, Chair of the Region of Waterloo
Quick facts
- Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
- $28.7 billion of this funding is supporting public transit projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- Across the province, Ontario is investing more than $7.3 billion in public transit infrastructure over 10 years through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
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Backgrounder
Canada and Ontario invest in public transit and active transportation infrastructure to support Waterloo Region residents:
Joint federal, provincial, and municipal funding through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan will support 10 public transit and active transportation projects in the Waterloo Region, Ontario. These investments will support healthier and more sustainable communities.
The Government of Canada is investing over $13 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS). The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $11 million, while the Region of Waterloo is contributing over $17 million.
Project Information:
Project Name |
Project Details |
Federal Funding |
Provincial Funding |
Municipal / Other Funding |
Expansion of Transit Service at Conestoga College |
Conestoga College Doon Campus transit station will be expanded to include six new buses and a bus terminal, bike parking, heated shelters and new signage. More transit users will be able to access the system safely and more efficiently. |
$3,390,000 |
$2,824,718 |
$3,160,282 |
Highway 7/8 Cycling and Pedestrian Bridge |
Construction of a pedestrian and cycling bridge will improve active transportation options for residents and increase access to the public transit system. |
$3,800,000 |
$3,166,350 |
$2,533,650 |
Market Trail to ION Light Rail Transit |
Construction of a 1.7 km shared-use active transportation trail to ION Light Rail Transit within the Region of Waterloo. The trail will include 10 bike racks, improvements at 3 road crossings, and the installation of new LED lighting. More pedestrians and cyclists will be able to access the light-rail transit system safely and efficiently. |
$1,124,000
|
$936,573
|
$749,427
|
Transit On-Street Infrastructure |
On-street transit infrastructure improvements that will increase the safety and accessibility of the transit system. 60 bus stops will be renovated with new hard surface pads. Also, 10 new bus shelters will be built and improvements will be made to 2 pedestrian crossings and 10 intersections. |
$1,010,500 |
$841,999 |
$673,751 |
Intelligent transportation Systems (ITS) for Transit |
Expanded use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) will aid in the operation of public transit. 30 new digital information displays at LRT platforms and nine new on-board information displays will make it easier for transit riders to reach their destinations. Upgrades will be made to the mobile payment application, as well as 36 mobile payment validation machines and 25 point-of-sale units. |
$852,500 |
$710,346 |
$568,404 |
Iron Horse Trail Improvements |
Iron Horse Trail will be expanded to include 5 km of new pedestrian walkways and bike lanes connecting to public transit stops. This will result in improved access to public transit, and improved safety for cyclists and pedestrians when using the trail and public transit in the area. |
$500,000 |
$416,625 |
$333,375 |
University of Waterloo Transit Shelter Canopy |
Construction of several heated bus shelters and bike storage areas at the University of Waterloo bus station. These shelters will include up-to-date technology and will improve the passenger experience and accessibility to the transit system. |
$1,500,000 |
$1,249,875 |
$1,000,125 |
Ottawa Street at Highway 7 to King Street Reconstruction (Including Bike lanes) |
Construction of 1.72 km of new bike lanes on Ottawa Street from King Street to Highway 7. The bike lanes will provide a continuous cycling route along Ottawa Street from adjacent bike lanes, connecting to the new Borden Avenue ION rapid transit station. |
$190,000 |
$158,318 |
$7,146,683 |
Hespeler Road at Highway 401 Cycling Facility |
At Hespeler Road from Eastbound Ramp to 401 to Westbound Ramp to 401, a new cycling facility will provide a much-needed crossing at Highway 401, as part of the new Highway 401 interchange reconstruction by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The cycling facility will provide connections to Groh Avenue and to Pinebush Road, which are adjacent to numerous bus routes. |
$950,000 |
$791,588 |
$633,413 |
Multi Use Trail - Lackner Boulevard |
Construction of a 1.9 km multi-use trail will connect two public transit stops to expand the active transportation network, improve connectivity to the public transit system, and the quality and accessibility for passengers. |
$305,000 |
$254,141 |
$223,359 |
Associated links
Prime Minister announces support to help communities create jobs and restart the economy: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/06/01/prime-minister-announces-support-help-communities-create-jobs-and
Government of Canada Resources - Coronavirus disease (COVID 19):
www.canada.ca/coronavirus
Investing in Canada Plan Project Map:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map
Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario:
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/on-eng.html
Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html
Ontario Builds Project Map: https://www.ontario.ca/page/building-ontario
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Web: Infrastructure Canada
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Chantalle Aubertin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-697-3778, [email protected]; Christine Bujold, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure, 416-454-1782, [email protected]; Sofia Sousa-Dias, Communications Branch, Ministry of Infrastructure, [email protected]; Bryan Stortz, Director, Corporate Communications, Chief Administrator's Office, Region of Waterloo, 519-575-4408, [email protected]; Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]
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