GATINEAU, QC, May 14, 2018 /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.
Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament for Hull‒Aylmer; Steven MacKinnon, Member of Parliament for Gatineau; André Fortin, Member of the National Assembly for Pontiac, and Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification; and Alexandre Iracà, Member of the National Assembly for Papineau, today announced an investment of over $36 million for 8 projects being carried out by the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO), under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The Government of Canada will provide more than $20 million for these projects, and the Government of Quebec will contribute over $16 million. The STO will provide the remaining funding.
Among the projects receiving funding are the purchase of hybrid buses and new computer-aided maintenance software to properly track bus maintenance activities. The STO will also be able to replace the park-and-ride lots in Angers and Buckingham.
Once completed, this work will improve the performance, efficiency and reliability of Outaouais' transit system, make it more inclusive and allow the STO to meet the community's immediate needs while preparing for anticipated future increases in ridership.
Quotes
"Modern efficient public transit infrastructure plays an important role in the development of sustainable communities and the growth of the middle class. By investing in projects such as these in Gatineau, the Government of Canada is helping communities across Quebec improve residents' mobility, meet increasing demand and provide key amenities to encourage economic development."
Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament for Hull‒Aylmer
"I am pleased to highlight our contribution to sustainable transportation projects such as the purchase of hybrid buses, which will be used to unclog our downtown neighborhoods and relieve congestion on Highway 50 during peak hours for the benefit of all Gatineau residents. Investing in public transit improves the way Canadians live, commute and work."
Steven MacKinnon, Member of Parliament for Gatineau
"I am proud to take part in this announcement. The project hich will make it easier for Gatineau residents to get around for years to come. Thanks to federal funding, the Société de transport de l'Outaouais will be able to build two new park and rides in Angers and Buckingham, replacing the existing parking lots and encouraging people to use public transit. "
Stéphane Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation
"These investments by the governments of Quebec and Canada will support the maintenance, improvement and development of public transit infrastructure in the Outaouais Region. These investments will provide families in the Region with a more efficient community-building public transit system."
André Fortin, Member of the National Assembly for Pontiac and Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification
"These investments are important for the Outaouais region because they will allow residents to travel more efficiently on public transit, leading to a better quality of life."
Stéphanie Vallée, Member of the National Assembly for Gatineau, Minister of Justice and Minister Responsible for the Outaouais Region
"The funding for these projects will contribute to Gatineau's economic growth, while improving air quality and residents' quality of life. These environmentally responsible alternatives to automobile travel will make the city an ideal choice for families and workers seeking a modern, sustainable and safe lifestyle."
Members of the Outaouais Region caucus
"The STO is pleased with the provincial and federal governments' commitment to addressing sustainable transportation challenges. Among the many projects announced under $36 million investment are the purchase of hybrid vehicles and improved accessibility for Buckingham and Angers residents with the new park and ride. These are only a few examples of the projects that will help us meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gases and creating healthy sustainable communities. "
Myriam Nadeau, President of the Société de transport de l'Outaouais
Quick Facts
- The Public Transit Infrastructure Fund has been funding projects since April 1, 2016. In total, the program is investing more than $1.8 billion in public transit projects. The Government of Canada will contribute up to $923.7 million, and the Government of Quebec, up to $739 million. Municipal governments are also helping fund projects through public transit authorities.
- The Government of Canada will invest 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 will support public transit projects, including $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 $100.4 billion through the province's infrastructure plan in health, education and transportation to improve families' quality of life and support innovation and economic growth.
Related Products
Financial Information and list of projects
Backgrounder
The governments of Canada and Quebec support better public transit services for Outaouais residents
Investments of more than $36 million
Public Transit Infrastructure Fund
The governments of Canada and Quebec are investing $36,090,000 in eight projects being undertaken by the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) to improve commute times, reduce air pollution, strengthen communities and grow the regional economy.
The Government of Canada is contributing $20,050,000, representing 50 per cent of the total eligible costs, and the Province is providing $16,040,000, representing 40 per cent of the total eligible costs. The STO will provide the remaining funding.
List of new projects
| Project Name |
Federal Funding |
Provincial Funding |
Funding from the STO |
Anticipated start date |
| Purchase of 17 40-feet hybrid buses in 2018 |
$7,500,000 |
$6,000,000 |
$1,500,000 |
April 13, 2017 |
| Purchase of ten 40-foot hybrid buses in 2018 |
$4,500,000 |
$3,600,000 |
$900,000 |
June 21, 2017 |
| Purchase of nine 40-foot hybrid buses in 2018 |
$4,000,000 |
$3,200,000 |
$800,000 |
March 1, 2018 |
| Computer-aided maintenance system |
$1,200,000 |
$960,000 |
$240,000 |
October 1, 2017 |
| Rehabilitation of the garage at 111 Jean-Proulx |
$1,000,000 |
$800,000 |
$200,000 |
January 31, 2018 |
| Construction of a Park-and-Ride lot in the Angers sector |
$750,000 |
$600,000 |
$150,000 |
January 31, 2018 |
| Construction of a Park-and-Ride lot in the Buckingham sector |
$750,000 |
$600,000 |
$150,000 |
January 31, 2018 |
| Traffic signal pre-emption system |
$350,000 |
$280,000 |
$70,000 |
March 1, 2018 |
Associated Links
Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan (PDF Version):
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/site/alt-format/pdf/plan/icp-pic/IC-InvestingInCanadaPlan-ENG.pdf
Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html
Federal investments in infrastructure projects in Quebec: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html
Smart Cities Challenge: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/cities-villes/index-eng.html
Quebec Infrastructure Plan: https://www.tresor.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/PDF/budget_depenses/18-19/fr/8-Infrastructures_publiques_du_Quebec.pdf
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Website: Infrastructure Canada
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Tel.: 613-219-0149; Marie-Pier Richard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification, Tel.: 418-643-6980; Isabelle Marier-St-Onge, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Justice and Minister Responsible for the Outaouais Region, Tel.: 418-643-4210; For Information: Infrastructure Canada, Tel.: 613-960-9251, Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Media Relations, Communications Branch, Quebec Department of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification, Tel.: 418-644-4444, Montréal: 514-873-5600, Toll-free: 1-866-341-5724
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