SHERBROOKE, QC, Aug. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize that investing in public transit infrastructure is crucial to economic growth, reducing pollution and creating inclusive communities where everyone has access to public services and job opportunities.
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead, and Luc Fortin, Member of the National Assembly for Sherbrooke and Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region, today announced an investment of more than $7.4 million for ten projects for the Société de transport de Sherbrooke under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The Government of Canada will invest over $4.1 million in these projects, and the Government of Quebec will contribute over $3.3 million. The Société de transport de Sherbrooke will provide the remaining funding.
The projects made possible through this contribution include the purchase of six urban hybrid buses, refurbishments to the bus lane that serves the University of Sherbrooke, and the installation of new information systems for transit users at stops to improve the user experience and new software to improve maintenance operations. Studies will also be conducted on preferential measures and demand-responsive transit to improve services and address mobility issues.
Once complete, these projects will improve the performance, efficiency and reliability of the transit system in Sherbrooke and make it more inclusive, meeting the community's immediate needs while preparing for anticipated ridership increases in the future.
Quotes
"Thanks to these projects, Sherbrooke's public transit users will enjoy more accessible and efficient services. The improvements will certainly encourage more citizens to use public transit while allowing the City of Sherbrooke to reduce its environmental footprint."
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities,
"The Government of Quebec's investment, together with that of the Government of Canada and the Société de transport de Sherbrooke, will greatly improve transit flow and the user experience. The various projects will contribute to Sherbrooke's growth while improving air quality and the quality of life. These environmentally responsible alternatives to automobile travel will make Sherbrooke an ideal choice for families and workers seeking a modern, sustainable and safe lifestyle."
Luc Fortin, Member of the National Assembly for Sherbrooke and Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region, on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec's Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification
"Increasing demand for public transit inevitably starts with more efficient services. With that in mind, last January, STS unveiled its smart mobility program, Vermeille, a way of using new technologies to better meet the mobility needs of Sherbrooke residents. Today's investment announcement fits perfectly into our vision of improving performance to make our services more attractive."
Bruno Vachon, President of the Société de transport de Sherbrooke
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.
- To support public transit, the Government of Canada's 2017 Budget allocates $23.5 billion. This amount includes $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- Over the next 10 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.
Related Product
Financial information and project list.
Backgrounder
The governments of Canada and Quebec support better public transit services in Sherbrooke
Investments of more than $7,4 million
Public Transit Infrastructure Fund
The governments of Canada and Quebec are investing $7,438,500 in 10 projects for the Société de transport de Sherbrooke (STS) to improve commute times, reduce air pollution, strengthen communities and grow the regional economy.
The Government of Canada is contributing $4,132,500, representing 50 percent of the total eligible costs, and the province is providing $3,306,000, representing 40 percent of the total eligible costs. The STS will provide the remaining funding.
List of projects
| Project Name |
Federal Funding |
Provincial Funding |
Funding from the STS |
Anticipated start date |
| Acquisition of 6 hybrid city buses in 2017 |
$2,600,000 |
$2,080,000 |
$520,000 |
March 1, 2017 |
| Traveller information system at bus stops |
$550,000 |
$440,000 |
$110,000 |
April 1, 2016 |
| Software replacement to optimize maintenance processes for the bus fleet |
$300,000 |
$240,000 |
$60,000 |
January 1, 2017 |
| Repairs to reserved bus lane (Sherbrooke University) |
$200,000 |
$160,000 |
$40,000 |
June 1, 2017 |
| Study on the addition of preferential measures |
$150,000 |
$120,000 |
$30,000 |
January 1, 2017 |
| Implementation of the Self-Service and Sign-In modules |
$120,000 |
$96,000 |
$24,000 |
June 1, 2017 |
| Installations at Carrefour de l'Estrie shopping centre (transfer point for STS) |
$87,500 |
$70,000 |
$17,500 |
May 1, 2017 |
| Corporate and decision-making dashboards |
$50,000 |
$40,000 |
$10,000 |
April 1, 2017 |
| Applications integration (client loyalty) |
$50,000 |
$40,000 |
$10,000 |
February 1, 2017 |
| Study on implementing an on-demand transportation service |
$25,000 |
$20,000 |
$5,000 |
February 1, 2017 |
Associated Links
Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's new $180 billion infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html
Federal investment in Quebec infrastructure projects:
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
Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Tel.: 613-219-0149; Anne Simard, Political Advisor for Communications, Office of the Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region, Tel.: 819 434-3025; For information: 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; Infrastructure Canada, Tel.: 613 960-9251, Toll free: 1 877 250-7154, Email: [email protected]
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