OTTAWA, Oct. 14 /CNW/ - The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour; the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's Minister of Transportation; His Worship David Miller, Mayor of Toronto; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) chair Adam Giambrone today unveiled the new Toronto Rocket subway trains.
"The Government of Canada is very pleased to contribute to these next-generation trains for use in Toronto's subway system," said Minister Raitt. "These new trains will offer great benefit for transit riders in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Through this investment, we are providing families and businesses with greater transit options, reducing traffic congestion and supporting better air quality across the region."
"The new generation of subway cars will improve the transit experience for Toronto commuters," said Minister Wynne. "Through the McGuinty government's Open Ontario plan, we are investing in infrastructure and strengthening our economy. Our government is committed to helping the City of Toronto increase its public transit use, reduce gridlock, improve air quality and build stronger communities."
"I'm incredibly proud of these new generation subway cars and of our ability to support Canadian jobs in the process," said Mayor Miller. "Public transit is the most efficient and greenest way to move people, and these cars will make the transit experience even better."
"The Toronto Rocket trains are part of the TTC's long-term plan to renew its fleets," said Mr. Giambrone. "In the last five years, more than 1,500 new buses have been ordered, and last year the TTC ordered 204 new streetcars to replace its aging fleet. This is a proud moment for the future of transit in Toronto."
The new Toronto Rocket trains will offer further passenger capacity, improved safety and security features, increased customer information systems, better accessibility features and reduced energy consumption. The first Toronto Rocket will go into revenue service in late December 2010.
The Government of Canada is contributing $92.3 million over five years through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund to support the construction and delivery of 78 Toronto Rocket subway cars, or the equivalent of 13 complete six-car train sets. Through previous provincial transit investments, Ontario has allocated $83.7 million to these new subway cars, with the City of Toronto contributing $60.7 million.
The overall cost for the 78 cars is $236.7 million. These cars are a portion of the 234 new subway cars being supplied to the City of Toronto and the TTC between 2010 and 2014. The subway cars will modernize Toronto's public transit; strengthen the city's economy; and expand the environmentally friendly ways of travelling in Toronto.
In 2006 the TTC awarded the contract to construct the subway cars to Bombardier Inc. in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The delivery of the first set of subway cars took place earlier this month.
For more information on Ontario's transit investments, visit www.ontario.ca/transportation-news.
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Backgrounder
CANADA STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
The Government of Canada is committed to helping provide Canadians with safe, efficient and affordable mass transportation, which contributes to a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and better communities, while addressing local and regional infrastructure needs.
The federal funding for these improvements comes from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF). Through the fund, the Government of Canada works with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. The CSIF supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and further economic growth.
The federal government has committed up to $303.5 million through the CSIF to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the City of Toronto, towards an estimated $1.05 billion in improvements in the following areas:
- Subway infrastructure — Seventy-eight new subway cars are being purchased, and repairs and improvements are being made to tracks and tunnels; escalators and elevators; fire ventilation; and emergency exits.
- Streetcar infrastructure — Tracks will be repaired or replaced along numerous routes and dedicated streetcar lanes have been constructed on St. Clair Avenue.
- Bus infrastructure — New hybrid buses have been purchased, and a bus rapid transit link was constructed from Downsview Station to York University.
The government's investment in the subway car component of the $303.5-million commitment, announced in July 2008, represents a portion of one of the largest one-time reimbursements for public transit ever made by the federal government.
In addition, under the Building Canada Fund, the Government of Canada has made the following commitments to public transit projects in the City of Toronto:
- Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension — $697 million ($622 million from the Building Canada Fund and $75 million from the Public Transit Capital Trust) towards a $2.6-billion subway extension from Downsview Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in York Region;
- Union Station Revitalization — $133 million towards a $640-million project for improvements to the historic Union Station in Toronto; and
- Sheppard East Light Rail Transit — $333 million towards a $1.0-billion project for 15 kilometres of dedicated streetcar lines along Sheppard Avenue.
THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
The Ontario government is tackling gridlock to build a strong and prosperous economy by getting people onto public transit with record investments and innovation.
Metrolinx
Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario, provides leadership in the coordination, financing and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
A seamless, integrated regional transit network with a focus on public transit means people and businesses will be able to move more easily across the GTHA, making cities more livable and the economy stronger, while protecting the environment. Metrolinx is also responsible for the operation of GO Transit.
Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan
In November 2008, Metrolinx released "The Big Move," its regional transportation plan for the GTHA. The Big Move identifies plans for expansion of the regional rapid transit network, including subways, light rail and bus rapid transit lines, integrated with an expanded GO Transit commuter rail network. Metrolinx is now implementing a number of key projects identified in The Big Move.
Since 2003, the Ontario government has committed close to $12 billion to help improve and expand transit in Toronto. This includes:
- funding for the "Big 5" transit projects in the GTA - $9 billion in funding announced in spring 2009 (the "Big 5" projects will be completed by 2020 and include the Sheppard East Light Rail Transit (LRT), Finch LRT, Eglinton Crosstown LRT, expansion of York VIVA Bus Rapid Transit, and upgrading and extending the Scarborough Rapid Transit line);
- in addition to the $83.7 million in funding for the 78 subway cars, the Province of Ontario has provided $197 million to the City of Toronto towards an additional 282 new subway cars that will be delivered to the city and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) between 2010 and 2013;
- up to $172 million for the revitalization of Union Station;
- $870 million to support the extension of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway from Downsview Station to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7 in York Region;
- up to $416 million committed towards the replacement of TTC streetcars with 204 new low-floor LRT cars; and
- delivering on the government's commitment to provide two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues to municipalities. This is a source of long-term, sustainable funding municipalities can count on. Since 2004, the Government of Ontario has committed $848.4 million to the City of Toronto in gas tax funding.
THE TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION
The TTC moves about 1.5 million riders every weekday. The TTC is the third-largest public transit system in North America, servicing some 4.5 million people in the Greater Toronto Area, with a network of subways, streetcars, buses and a specialized service, Wheel-Trans, for people who require accessible transportation. The TTC is committed to meeting the growing needs of the region with subway and light rail expansion, carrying an additional 175 million riders by 2021.
October 2010
For further information:
| Contacts: | John Babcock Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Ottawa 613-991-0700 Jocelyne Turner Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt Minister of Labour 613-773-7059 Derek Luk Minister's Office Ontario Ministry of Transportation Toronto 416-327-1815 Stuart Green Director of Communications Office of Mayor David Miller City of Toronto 416-338-7119 |
Media Relations Transport Canada, Ottawa 613-993-0055 Bob Nichols Communications Ontario Ministry of Transportation Toronto 416-327-1158 Brad Ross Director Corporate Communications Toronto Transit Commission 416-393-3598 |
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