Transit Infrastructure needs are $53-billion for next five years: CUTA

TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) is renewing its call for action in addressing current and future infrastructure needs for public transit, after releasing a report covering the 5-year period 2010-2014.

"Public transit infrastructure needs for the period 2010-2014 stands at $53.5 billion," says CUTA President and CEO Michael Roschlau. "The renewal portion - to keep transit systems operating in a state of good repair - is $13 billion of the total, while expansion needs - allowing transit to keep up with ridership demand and population growth - amount to $40.4 billion over the next 5 years."

CUTA surveyed transit systems across the country on two dimensions: expenditures currently planned versus additional needs that cannot be met through existing funding; and expenditures for replacement or renewal, versus expenditures to respond to population growth or attract new ridership.

"Two-thirds of the $53.5 billion are now fundable within existing government programs, up from half in the previous period," states CUTA Chair Charles Stolte. "This represents $36 billion of the total, an absolute number that has risen from $5.1 billion in the five-year period 1999-2004 ten years ago."

Transit systems estimate they will need to invest $40.4 billion on expansion between 2010 and 2014 to meet projected demand - a figure slightly surpassing the entire infrastructure needs from the previous period. Total infrastructure needs of Canadian transit systems have risen as pressure increases to raise capacity and service quality in accordance with municipal and regional development plans. The survey had a response rate representing 96% of all Canadian transit operations, according to annual operating costs.

"Added pressure from a growing population reflects one of the many challenges public transit systems are facing, especially in the larger urban centres and their surrounding suburbs," concludes Stolte. "Moving forward, all orders of government must work together to provide a long-term and sustainable transit investment framework."

Background:

CUTA is the national association representing public transit systems, suppliers to the industry, government agencies, individuals and related organizations in Canada.

For a full copies of the Infrastructure report: http://www.cutaactu.ca/sites/cutaactu.ca/files/CUTA_Infrastructure_Needs_Report.pdf

For further information: Maureen Shuell, CUTA Director of Communications, [phone] ext. 105, www.cutaactu.ca