TORONTO, June 23, 2017 /CNW/ - Investing in public transit 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. The governments of Canada and Ontario are making investments that will help create well-paying jobs and grow the middle class now while building a strong foundation for a sustainable economic future.
Today, the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation, announced up to $333 million in federal funding for the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. The Finch West LRT represents a $1.2 billion investment by the Government of Ontario to expand and improve transit in the City of Toronto.
The Finch West LRT project will include the design and construction of 11 kilometers of light rail transit line along the surface of Finch Avenue. The rail line will run from the new Finch West Subway Station on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension at Keele Street to Humber College. The project will also build 16 surface stops, a below-grade terminus stop at Humber College, an underground interchange station at the TTC's Finch West Subway Station, and a maintenance and storage facility for the light rail vehicles.
The LRT service will move more people faster through the busy Finch West corridor than the existing bus service, provide new regional travel options for transit users, connect to GO Transit bus services and Mississauga and Brampton local bus services, and support new economic growth and job creation in the region.
Quotes
"The governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with municipalities to invest in important public transit infrastructure projects like the Finch West Light Rail Transit Project that will help reduce congestion and get middle class Canadians home to their families quicker. Through our government's historic investments in infrastructure, we are building healthier communities while strengthening the Canadian economy. New urban transit networks and service extension projects help better meet the needs of Canadians by creating jobs today and a more competitive Canada in the economy of tomorrow."
The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"I'm very pleased that the Government of Canada is partnering with us to deliver the Finch West LRT. The $1.2 billion investment to build the Finch West LRT is funded as part of the more than $8.4 billion that Ontario has committed to building rapid transit in Toronto to manage congestion, connect communities and give people more travel options."
The Honourable Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation
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, Budget 2017 proposes $25.3 billion. This amount includes $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- Under the Building Canada Fund-Major Infrastructure Component, the Government of Canada is contributing up to $333 million towards the Finch West Light Rail Transit project.
- The Government of Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges, and water and wastewater infrastructure in the province's history – more than $190 billion in public infrastructure over 13 years, starting in 2014–15. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.
Associated links
Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375
Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/on-eng.html
Building Canada Fund - Major Infrastructure Component: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/programs-infc-summary-eng.html#bcf-mic
Build ON 2017 Infrastructure Update: https://www.ontario.ca/page/buildon-2017-infrastructure-update
Twitter: @INFC_eng
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149, [email protected]; Celso Pereira, Minister's Office, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 647-201-9348, [email protected]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]
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